Caution needed with burn-offs

PROPERTY owners need to be cautious when lighting fires in the Manawatu District over the next month as ground conditions start to dry out, warns Principal Rural Fire Officer, Tony Groome.

Although recent rain has led to some dampening of the rural landscape, people are being asked to use common sense if they are contemplating a burn-off.

“They should be cautious of where and how they light the fires and to notify neighbours of their intention,” he said. “They should only burn in the daylight hours and be aware of the fire’s proximity to buildings and other vegetation that may burn.”

Mr Groome said there were no thoughts at this stage of declaring a restricted fire season for the district, but the situation was being reviewed on a weekly basis and could change.
“Early figures show the district is not too bad, but it will only take two or three days of warm, dry wind and the danger levels will start to go up,” he said.
A restricted season was declared on December 16, 2007 – the earliest for many years – and meant that people intending to light fires required a permit from council.

Mr Groome said there were indications of a reasonably dry summer ahead, with conditions likely to be at their driest from mid-January through to March.