Rural fire crews across the Horizons Regional Council's region have attended 18 fires since Christmas as the lower North Island dries out.
Horizons' principal rural fire officer, Paul Chaffe, said recent hot, dry weather had increased the rural fire risk. In the Wanganui district, the fire risk was recently increased
from moderate to high.
"We have had three significant fires since Christmas involving areas up to six hectares in size," Mr Chaffe said.
"The longest fire to date was eight hours and the majority have been grass and scrub with some commercial forest involvement. The water tanker has been called out eight times and helicopter twice."
Mr Chaffe said if people had to burn in a rural area, permits were required from tomorrow.
