Reminder of fire danger after frosts

One of three helicopters that fought a burn-off between State Highway 6 and the Remarkables skifield access way yesterday afternoon. Photo / Tracey Roxburgh

Farmers are being urged to be mindful of the dangers of frost-cured fine fuels in the wake of a burn-off that jumped its containment line near the Remarkables yesterday.

Three helicopters were called in to fight the fire, on land between the Remarkables skifield access road and Boyd Rd-State Highway 6, using monsoon buckets from about 2.45pm.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said the farmer became "a wee bit concerned'' earlier in the day, but then informed the fire service ``he got it out''.

However, the fire later jumped its containment line and started travelling towards the ski field access road.

"It had the potential ... to run, jump the access road and, of course, we know where it's going to go from there.

"Rather than waiting on it to happen, we thought we'd better get in and deal with it.
"Once it broke that containment line, especially with the people coming up and down that road, it's quite dangerous.''

Traffic on the ski field road was stopped for about half an hour from 4pm, Mr Still said.
It was not clear how big an area was involved.

Mr Still said people needed to be mindful of how dry fine fuels were at this time of year, particularly when lighting fires on a slope.

"Frost curing is just as bad as a 30degC day - it just sucks all the moisture right out.
"You don't need much wind to push a fine fuel fire along.''

He said the farmer involved in yesterday's incident "did the right thing'' by alerting the fire service early and he urged anyone planning a controlled burn to have a ``proper light-up plan'' and be vigilant.

In September 2013 a fire in a similar place affected about 40ha of land bordering the Remarkables access road after a controlled burn-off was fanned by winds.

In September 2006 another out-of-control burn off further south affected at least 800ha over 3km.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz