Dry spell bumps fire risk to high

DRYING OUT: Wanganui's fire risk has just moved up to high.PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER 120115WCLGDRY3.JPG

Wanganui's fire risk increased from moderate to high over the weekend.

And a restricted fire season may soon be operating in the district if significant rain doesn't arrive soon.

"The fire danger is creeping up and we are constantly monitoring it," Wanganui emergency manager Matthew Smith said yesterday.

Wanganui has recorded just 0.2 millimetres of rain in 2015. Apart from 2.8mm on December 31, there has been no rainfall since December 20, when the city received 13.4mm.

Mr Smith said the fire season was open, meaning permits to light fires were not necessary. The exception to this was the drier coastal area where a permanent restricted fire season operated meaning a permit was needed to light a fire.

"However, restrictions may come in soon, depending on what the weather does. We really need some significant rain," Mr Smith said.

Rural fire officers will meet this week to go through weather forecasts for the district, and discuss the possibility of a restricted fire season.

No rain is expected in Wanganui over the next 10 days, although some showers are forecast for next week.

Mr Smith said if a restricted fire season was introduced, the public would be notified through the council website and notices in the Wanganui Chronicle.

Bryce Coneybeer from the Wanganui fire service is warning people to be vigilant about the rising fire risk after the fire service attended a number of beach and rubbish fires over the weekend.

"At this time of the year when things are dry, it is important that people don't leave fires burning. It is so easy for the wind to pick up an ember."

Last year, Wanganui experienced a very dry late summer and early autumn - not a drop of rain fell between March 5 and April 9.

By the end of March, Wanganui's fire danger was listed as extreme and on April 1, a total fire ban came into force across the Wanganui district and the Patea ward of the South Taranaki district.