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Clutha District Council Restricted Fire Season

Public Notice is hereby given pursuant to Sections 19, 22 and 23 of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977.

THAT AS FROM MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2009 A  RESTRICTED  FIRE SEASON WILL EXIST  IN  THE  CLUTHA DISTRICT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

1.         Burning permits are required for all fires in the open air during the restricted fire season except for the following:

            a)           The  burning  of  agriculture crop residues,  stubble  or straw  provided  that no crop residue, stubble  or  straw shall  be burnt until a fully ploughed fire break of  not less than five metres in width has been created around the area  to  be  burnt.

                           NOTE: Fire permits are required for all agricultural residue fires within 500 metres of City Forests Ltd, Wenita Forest Products Ltd forests and/or within 1 kilometre Department of Conservation area.  Fire permits are obtainable on application from these organisations.

            b)           Barbecues lit in properly constructed containers which are fuelled with gas, solid or liquid fuel.

            c)           Cooking fires at camping sites lit within a concrete or stone surround and with not less than three metres of ground   surrounding   the container cleared   of   all combustible materials.

            PROVIDED THAT NO SUCH FIRES SHALL BE LIT WHEN HIGH OR GUSTY WINDS ARE PREVAILING.

2.         A ban on all fires on any day or days of extreme fire hazard as broadcast under  Section 20 of the Forest & Rural Fires Act takes precedence over this notice.

3.         In  all cases a person lighting a fire within these  provisions shall  remain  in  attendance  at the fire until  it  is  fully extinguished or cannot spread.

4.         It  is no legal defence against the claims for damage caused by the  fire,  that  the  fire  was of a type or  lit  at  a  time permitted by this notice.

Burning permits may be obtained on application to the:-

Clutha District Council                   Balclutha                   Ph (03) 4190200

or CDC Service Centres at             Milton                        Ph (03) 4178109

                                                   Lawrence                   Ph (03) 4859909

                                                   Tapanui                      Ph (03) 2048306                                   

At least five working days notice is required to allow prior inspection of the area concerned.

***  FOR FIRE EMERGENCY DIAL 111 ***

P O Box 25                                                                              S B Vigers

BALCLUTHA                                                                          PRINCIPAL RURAL FIRE OFFICER

Click here to view the Clutha District Rural Fire Plan 2008/09

At certain times of the year we experience prolonged spells of dry weather. These are the times when the risk of fire is at its greatest. Council will restrict or prohibit all open fires during such periods.  There are a number of simple steps that you can take to protect your own property.

• Avoid all outdoor activities that generate heat or sparks.

• Clear vegetation within 10 to 30 metres around houses and outbuildings.

• Clean weeds and leaves from out of rain gutters and downspouts.

• Remove dead plants and debris from around your sections.

• Cut lawns and paddocks around buildings, and keep them watered when and where permitted.

• Connect a garden hose for immediate use in the event of a fire.

• Signpost water supplies and provide clear access routes to them.

• Prepare a home inventory, and collect important documents in a safe place. See our Civil Defence page for more information.

• Make an escape plan and make sure that everyone in your household knows what to do.

• Evacuate immediately if instructed to do so by local authorities.

For today's fire weather, see the National Rural Fire Authority website. The link to 'Fire Danger Today' can be found on their home page.

For more information about fire safety, see the New Zealand Fire Service website.