Wednesday 11 November 2009

Restricted fire season coming into force

The onset of warmer weather will see a restricted fire season come into force for the entire Clutha District on Monday 16 November 2009, Principal Rural Fire Officer Selwyn Vigers said today.

The start of the restricted fire season means that permits are required for all fires in the open air, except for the following:

• The burning of agricultural crop residues, stubble or straw, provided a fully ploughed firebreak of at least 5m has been created first, and provided that Council is notified on the day prior to the burn.

• Barbecues lit in properly constructed containers which are fuelled with gas, solid or liquid fuel;

• Cooking fires at camping sites lit within a concrete or stone surround and with no less than 3m of ground surrounding the container cleared of all combustible materials.

However, Mr Vigers said none of the fires above are permitted to be lit in high or gusty wind conditions. In all cases the person lighting the fire must remain in attendance until the fire is out or cannot spread.

“Anyone else intending to light a fire in the open, in either rural or urban areas, needs to get in touch with Council and give at least five working days notice to obtain a fire permit,” he said. “This will give a rural fire officer time to inspect the site, check the conditions, and give advice to the applicant.”

Mr Vigers said that even with a permit, it is the responsibility of those lighting fires to ensure the fire does not spread. Prosecution and cost recovery is still possible if a fire gets out of control, even if the fire is of a type allowed to be lit.

Further advice and fire permit application forms are available from the Clutha District Council main office, from the Lawrence, Milton and Tapanui Service Centres, or online by clicking here.

A total fire ban is a possibility if weather conditions become too extreme over summer.

ENDS