Fire season change for Otago fire zones
12 April 2024
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has revoked the prohibited fire season in the Upper Waitaki, Central, Strath Taieri, Naseby and Glendhu Bluffs fire zones from 8am Saturday 13 April, until further notice.
These areas are moving to a restricted fire season. This means people can only light outdoor fires if they have a fire permit approved by Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Go to checkitsalright.nz to apply for a permit. Prohibited fire seasons were also lifted and replaced with a restricted fire season in Otago’s Lakes and Coastal Waitaki fire zones last week.
"Heavy rain this week broke the back of dry conditions and reduced the fire danger right across the District," Fire and Emergency’s Otago District Manager Phil Marsh says.
Apart from significant recent rainfall, vegetation is becoming damper with cooler temperatures, longer nights and more dew in the mornings.
Caution around lighting outdoor fires is nonetheless still advised. There has been a lot of grass growth over summer which can be further dried out by frosts. People need to take care whenever they light fires.
The fire season change will enable farmers to use fire for land management purposes ahead of winter, Phil Marsh says.
"It is important people are aware they must still have the necessary permissions and ensure any fires are kept well controlled and safe. Always visit checkitsalright.nz before lighting and avoid lighting fires during or ahead of strong winds."
A fireworks ban has been lifted in Upper Waitaki and Central fire zones, effective from 8am Saturday 13 April. A ban on lighting fireworks remains in force at all Otago ‘prohibited’ special risk zones, as well as Lake Ōhau, Glendhu Bluff and Naseby. Because fire and activity restrictions or prohibitions change depending on fire risk conditions, and special risk sub-zones have differing fire controls, people should search for their exact location at checkitsalright.nz.
It is important to note that Lake Ōhau remains in a prohibited fire season.
