Fire ban to be lifted
Posted on 10 January 2011The total fire ban covering the Southern Rural Fire District, excluding the Naseby area, is to be lifted on Monday at 9am after this week's rain eased the fire danger.
Southern Rural Fire Authority deputy principal rural fire officer Elton Smith said a restricted fire season will be imposed across Southland, but the total fire ban is still in place in the Naseby area.
The restricted season means a permit has to be gained to light an open fire. Permits do no need to be gained for camp fires, barbecues, incinerators, offal holes and hedge trimmings, but these do have specific conditions, including never lighting them when it is windy and not being within 30m of a building, trees, hedges or material that could catch fire.
Those who light fires in the open are responsible for making sure the fires are safe and do not spread, Mr Smith said.
"Even if you light a fire with a permit, or in an incinerator or a barbecue, it's still your responsibility if it escapes and damages property or has to be put out by the fire service or rural fire crew," he said.
Fires should never be lit when conditions are windy, or strong winds are forecast.
Authority staff issue permits, and it can take up to five days to check the applications, particularly if a site inspection is required, so Mr Smith urges people to think ahead if they plan to burn off.