From Saturday fires are restricted

Due to the ongoing warm and dry weather, the City Council will impose a restricted fire season from midnight on Saturday, December 15.


The City Council’s Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer, Graeme McIntyre, says the measure means that from midnight, December 15, the lighting of fires in the open air within the city’s rural fire area is restricted until further notice.


Graeme explains that permits are required from the City Council for all open air fires except for;

Barbecues lit in properly constructed containers and fuelled with gas, solid or liquid fuel
Cooking fires lit within approved concrete or stone surrounds and with not less than three metres of ground surrounding the container cleared of all combustible material
Brazier fires lit within a properly constructed container and with not less than three metres of ground surrounding the container cleared of all combustible material.


He points out provisions are attached to those permits that relate to no fires being lit when high or gusty winds are prevailing and that the person lighting the fire must be in attendance until it is fully extinguished.


Applications should be made to the City Council’s Customer Service Centre and permits must allow for sufficient time for an investigation and/or inspection to be made by a Rural Fire Officer.


The City Council also says all fires in the urban area require a permit with the only exemption being barbecues that cook with oil or gas. Even if a permit is sought it may still be declined.