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Don’t Light That Fire – Fire Ban is Still On

Tuesday 4 March 2008, 2:46PM

By New Plymouth District Council

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NEW PLYMOUTH

Very dry soil and a build-up of dry grass across New Plymouth District means the urban and rural fire ban is still operative, despite recent rain.


“Some areas around the district have had some decent rainfall, particularly closer to the mountain and around the Marco area in the eastern hill country, but overall there is still a high risk of a fire getting out of control and doing significant damage,” says Principle Rural Fire Officer Lester Barnes.

“We appreciate that the fire prohibition is causing some problems for land owners, particularly farmers who have cleared their land of rubbish that needs to be disposed before they can plant out fully again, and the prohibition will be lifted as soon as the conditions allow.

“But for now, it is just too dry out there.”

While rainfall in January and February has been on a par with last year, November and December were exceptionally dry. Mr Barnes says the district is still feeling the effect of that early start to the dry season with the soil showing extreme moisture deficit, which means fire can quickly take hold in tree roots.

“In the DOC estate at Aotuhia and at Otoraoa Rd where there were fires, we’ve seen large trees where the tops were untouched by flames but which have fallen over because their roots were burnt out,” he says.

“If you look across farmers’ paddocks now you’ll see a green top, but beneath that on the surface of the soil is a lot more dry material than we would normally have at this time of year.”

The 10-day forecast shows minimal rainfall is expected in New Plymouth District, so the current conditions will get drier says Mr Barnes.

The bylaw allows for a fire ban exemption to be applied for in writing for a prohibited activity, such as a hangi, in the urban area during a fire prohibition period.