30 April 2013

Open Fire Season to Be Introduced For the Waikato District

An open fire season will be introduced for the Waikato district with effect from 1 May 2013 until further notice.

Currently a restricted fire season is in place, requiring permits for any fire in the open air within rural areas of the Waikato District. An open fire season means that permits will no longer be required unless the fire is within a Department of Conservation area or within a one kilometre safety margin around such an area.

Principal Rural Fire Officer Andy Baker reminds landowners and those lighting fires that ultimately they have a responsibility under law to ensure that the fire is safe, controllable and monitored to ensure it does not spread.

“Special attention is required for those areas where peat soils exist as these fires can spread undetected and can be extremely difficult and costly to control and suppress,” Mr Baker said.

The cost of fighting fires lies with the landowner or person responsible for the fire so Mr Baker urges people to treat fire with respect and use the open season as a time to carry out safe burns to reduce the need for fires during the summer.

“This past summer has been challenging with the extreme fire danger resulting in a fire ban and extended restricted fire season but in general there was fantastic compliance by the public,” Mr Baker said.

The service of fire fighters throughout the district, most of whom are volunteers, did much to ensure the fire situation was kept in control.

“The way in which these men and woman responded to fires has no doubt resulted in fewer fires getting out of control, and for this we owe them a sincere thank you,” Mr Baker said.

Further information about rural fires can be obtained from the council’s website: http://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/Services/Rural-fires.aspx

ENDS

© Scoop Media