Fire season downgraded

A restricted fire season now applies throughout the Manawatu District and neighbouring regions and will remain until significant rainfall is recorded.


Principal Rural Fire Officer, Tony Groome, said the total fire ban that had been in place since February 9 was downgraded to restricted at midnight on Friday.


“Conditions are easing and better than they have been for some time,” he said. “Things are certainly greening up around the place, but we are continuing to monitor the situation regularly.”


The four-week prohibited season had been the longest in the district since a five-week ban in February-March 2003.


Mr Groome said extreme care still had to be taken, as evidenced by a garden rubbish fire in the southern part of the district that had “got away” and destroyed a nearby building containing vehicles and farm equipment.


People wanting to light fires in the open are now required to get a free permit from the Manawatu District Council and to arrange a time for a site inspection.


“Each fire is looked at on a case-by-case basis and for their suitability to burn under the current conditions,” said Mr Groome. “People must be aware we need to be given adequate notice to carry out the inspection and that we can’t come out ‘right now’ to the property.”


Mr Groome said there had been a large number of permit requests since the ban was lifted and by Monday he was already working through about 60 applications, predominately for stubble burn-offs.