Southland District Council News

Revocation of Prohibited Fire Season

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:16:10 +1200

The Central Otago District Council, Department of Conservation Rural Fire Authorities and the Naseby Zone of Southern Rural Fire District will revoke the Prohibited Fire Season imposed in the Central Otago District at midnight on Saturday, 28 November 2009. This will take effect from midnight, Wednesday, 5 May 2010.

A RESTRICTED fire season over the Central Otago District is now in force in the urban and rural areas. A PERMIT TO BURN IN THE OPEN AIR MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE A FIRE IS IGNITED.

The following activities ONLY are permitted during the Restricted Fire Season without a permit:

1. Barbeques lit in properly constructed containers and fuelled by gas, solid or liquid fuel.

2. Cooking fire at camp sites lit within a concrete or stone surround situated at least three metres from combustible material.

3. Rubbish burning within an enclosed incinerator situated at least five metres from all combustible material. (Note: A 44 gallon drum does not constitute an enclosed incinerator.).

PROVIDED that no such fires shall be lit when high or gusty winds prevail.

Applications for permits for fires other than the above, may be made to: the Council office at Alexandra, telephone 03 440 0056 or if within 1 kilometre of Department of Conservation land, contact area office at Alexandra 03 440 2040 or if within 1 kilometre of Naseby Forest, contact forestry headquarters 03 444 9995. Applications must be received at least five (5) working days prior to the proposed burning time.

The lighting of fires in the open without a permit is strictly prohibited.

Owen Burgess Principal Rural Fire Officer Central Otago District Council	Marion van der Goes Principal Rural Fire Officer Department of Conservation
Mike Grant Principal Rural Fire Officer Southern Rural Fire District

Revocation of Restricted Fire Season - Zone A

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:36:10 +1200

The Southern Rural Fire Committee as Fire Authority for Southern Rural Fire District gives notice to the public that the Restricted Fire Season currently in force in the District will be revoked from 8.00am, Wednesday 28 April 2010 in Zone A only (including towns).

1. The public is reminded that a Restricted Fire Season will remain in place in Zone B and a Prohibited Fire Season will remain in place in the Naseby zone.

2. No fire shall be lit in the open air within the Southern Rural Fire District during the Restricted Fire Season without a written permit from Rural Fire Officer of the District, except for the following that do not require permits as long as the following conditions are met:

(a) Incinerators; conditions - the incinerator is designed to prevent the escape of fire and ashes, is no closer than 5 metres to any building, tree, hedge, fence or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire is available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguishable after burning and before dark.

(b) BBQ/Cooking Fires; conditions - the fire is no closer than 5 metres to any building, fence, hedge or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and the BBQ is not left unattended, (gas BBQs are preferred).

(c) Offal Hole; conditions - there must be a cleared area of at least 30 metres from any other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control spread of fire must be available, no burning is to be undertaken in winds above 15 Kph or 11 Kph if within 100 metres of tussock or 5 Kph if within 100 metres of scrub or wetland areas.

(d) Hedge/Tree Trimmings; conditions - the fire is 30 metres away from and on the downward side of any shelter belt, trees, fences, buildings or other combustible material and the wind is blowing away from the above, no burning is to be undertaken in winds above 15 Kph or 11 Kph if within 100 metres of tussock or 5 Kph if within 100 metres of scrub or wetland areas.

No fires are to be lit when conditions are such or are predicted, (eg strong winds) that the fire is likely to spread.

3. It is the responsibility of people lighting fires to make sure they are safe at all times and cannot spread. It is no legal defence that the fire was of a type or lit at a time permitted by this notice.

4. People seeking further information or wishing to obtain fire permits can contact the Southern Rural Fire Authority during work hours on 0800 773 363. Please allow 5 working days to process permit applications and undertake inspections of the area concerned.

This notice is issued pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 this 28th day of April 2010.

Michael C Grant
PRINCIPAL RURAL FIRE OFFICER
SOUTHERN RURAL FIRE AUTHORITY

Total Fire Ban

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:19:09 +1300

The Southern Rural Fire Committee as Fire Authority for the Southern Rural Fire District gives notice to the public that a Total Fire Ban (Prohibited Fire Season) will be imposed across all land within the Southern Rural Fire District from 08.00am Saturday 18 December 2010 until further notice.

A Total Fire Ban means that no person shall, in the area of the Southern Rural Fire District including urban and rural areas, light any fire in the open air or cause or permit and such fire to be ignited.

All fire permits currently issued are suspended and no further fire permits will be issued during the currency of this Total Fire Ban.

The only activity permitted during the Fire Ban is barbeques ignited in a properly constructed container and fuelled by gas only.

This notice is issued pursuant to the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, Invercargill City Council Fire Prevention (Vegetation) Bylaw 2010, Southland District Council Fire Prevention (Vegetation) Bylaw 2010 and Gore District Council Fire Prevention (Vegetation) Bylaw 2005 this 18th day of December 2010.

Michael C Grant
Principal Rural Fire Officer
Southern Rural Fire Authority

Revocation of Total Fire Ban

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:26:56 +1300

The Southern Rural Fire Committee as Fire Authority for Southern Rural Fire District gives notice to the public the Total Fire Ban (Prohibited Fire Season) currently in force in the District has been revoked from 9.00 am, Monday 10th January 2011. This excludes the Naseby Zone where a Total Fire Ban is in place.

1. The public is reminded that a Restricted Fire Season will remain in place.

2. No fire shall be lit in the open air within Southern Rural Fire District during the Restricted Fire Season without a written permit from a Rural Fire Officer of the District, except for the following which do not require permits as long as the following conditions are met:

(a) Incinerators; conditions - incinerator is designed to prevent the escape of fire and ashes, is no closer than 5 metres to any building, tree, hedge, fence or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire is available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and before dark.

(b) BBQ/Cooking Fires; conditions - fire is no closer 5 metres to any building, fence, hedge or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and the BBQ is not left unattended, (gas BBQs are preferred).

(c) Offal Hole (only applies in rural areas); conditions - there must be a cleared area of at least 30 metres from any other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available.

(d) Hedge/Tree Trimmings (only applies in rural areas); conditions – fire is no larger than 2 metres by 2 metres, fire is 30 metres away from and on the downwind side of any shelterbelt, trees, fences, buildings or other combustible material and the wind is blowing away from the above.

No fires are to be lit when conditions are such or are predicted, (eg strong winds) that the fire is likely to spread.

2. It is the responsibility of people lighting fires to make sure they are safe at all times and cannot spread. It is no legal defence that the fire was of a type or lit at a time permitted by this notice.

3. People seeking further information or wishing to obtain fire permits can contact the Southern Rural Fire Authority fire permit line during work hours on 0800 773 363. Please allow 5 working days to process permit applications and undertake inspections of the area concerned.

This notice is issued pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 this 10th day of January 2011.

Michael C Grant

PRINCIPAL RURAL FIRE OFFICER

SOUTHERN RURAL FIRE COMMITTEE

Revocation of Restricted Fire Season – Zone A

Tue, 10 May 2011 16:34:39 +1200

1. The public is reminded that a Restricted Fire Season will remain in place in Zone B.

2. No fire shall be lit in the open air within Southern Rural Fire District during the Restricted Fire Season without a written permit from a Rural Fire Officer of the District, except for the following that do not require permits as long as the following conditions are met:

(a) Incinerators; conditions - the incinerator is designed to prevent the escape of fire and ashes, is no closer than 5 metres to any building, tree, hedge, fence or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire is available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and before dark.

(b) BBQ/Cooking Fires; conditions - the fire is no closer than 5 metres to any building, fence, hedge or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and the BBQ is not left unattended, (gas BBQs are preferred).

(c) Offal Hole; conditions - there must be a cleared area of at least 30 metres from any other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available, no burning is to be undertaken in winds above 15 Kph or 11 Kph if within 100 metres of tussock or 5 Kph if within 100 metres of scrub or wetland areas.

(d) Hedge/Tree Trimmings; conditions - the fire is 30 metres away from and on the downward side of any shelter belt, trees, fences, buildings or other combustible material and the wind is blowing away from the above, no burning is to be undertaken in winds above 15 Kph or 11 Kph if within 100 metres of tussock or 5 Kph if within 100 metres of scrub or wetland areas.

No fires are to be lit when conditions are such or are predicted, (eg strong winds) that the fire is likely to spread.

3. It is the responsibility of people lighting fires to make sure they are safe at all times and cannot spread. It is no legal defence that the fire was of a type or lit at a time permitted by this notice.

4. People seeking further information or wishing to obtain fire permits can contact the Southern Rural Fire Authority during work hours on 0800 773 363. Please allow 5 working days to process permit applications and undertake inspections of the area concerned.

This notice is issued pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 this 14^th day of May 2011.

Elton Smith

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL RURAL FIRE OFFICER

SOUTHERN RURAL FIRE AUTHORITY

Restricted Fire Season

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:10:35 +1300

The Southern Rural Fire Committee as Fire Authority for Southern Rural Fire District gives notice to the public that a Restricted Fire Season will be imposed across all land within Southern Rural Fire District (Zones A and B), including towns, from 8.00 am Saturday 10 December 2011 until further notice.

1. No fire shall be lit in the open air within Southern Rural Fire District during the Restricted Fire Season without a written permit from a Rural Fire Officer of the Authority, except for the following:

(a) Incinerators; conditions - incinerator is designed to prevent the escape of fire and ashes, is no closer than 5 metres to any building, tree, hedge, fence or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire is available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and before dark.

(b) BBQ/Cooking Fires; conditions - fire is no closer than 5 metres to any building, fence, hedge or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and the BBQ is not left unattended, (gas BBQs are preferred).

(c) Offal Hole (only applies in rural areas); conditions - there must be a cleared area of at least 30 metres from any other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available, no burning is to be undertaken in winds above 15 Kph or 11 Kph if within 100 metres of tussock or 5 Kph if within 100 metres of scrub or wetland areas.

(d) Hedge/Tree Trimmings (only applies in rural areas); conditions - fire size is no larger than 2m x 2m and branches no larger than 75mm diameter, fire is 30 metres away from and on the downwind side of any shelterbelt, trees, fences, buildings or other combustible material and the wind is blowing away from the above, no burning is to be undertaken in winds above 15 Kph or 11 Kph if within 100 metres of tussock or 5 Kph if within 100 metres of scrub or wetland areas.

No fires are to be lit when conditions are such or are predicted, (eg strong winds) that the fire is likely to spread.

3. People seeking further information or wishing to obtain fire permits can contact the Southern Rural Fire Authority fire permit line during work hours on 0800 773 363. Please allow five working days to process permit applications and undertake inspections of the area concerned.

This notice is issued pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 this 10^th day of December 2011.

Total Fire Ban

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:53:24 +1300

The Southern Rural Fire Committee as Fire Authority for Southern Rural Fire District gives notice to the public that a Total Fire Ban (Prohibited Fire Season) will be imposed across all land within Southern Rural Fire District from 08.00 am Thursday 5 January 2012 until further notice.

A Total Fire Ban means that no person shall, in the area of the Southern Rural Fire District including urban and rural areas, light any fire in the open air or cause or permit any such fire to be ignited.

All fire permits currently issued are suspended and no further fire permits will be issued during the currency of this Total Fire Ban.

The only activity permitted during the Fire Ban is barbeques ignited in a properly constructed container and fuelled by gas only.

This notice is issued pursuant to the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, Invercargill City Council Fire Prevention (Vegetation) Bylaw 2010, Southland District Council Fire Prevention (Vegetation) Bylaw 2010 and Gore District Council Fire Prevention (Vegetation) Bylaw 2005 this 5^th day of January 2012.

Michael C Grant

PRINCIPAL RURAL FIRE OFFICER

SOUTHERN RURAL FIRE AUTHORITY

Variation to Total Fire Ban - Stubble Burning

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:21:23 +1300

The Southern Rural Fire Committee as Fire Authority for Southern Rural Fire District gives notice to the public that recent weather conditions have temporarily reduced the fire danger thereby enabling a variation to the Total Fire Ban which was imposed across all land within the Southern Rural Fire District on Thursday, 5 January 2012.

Burning of Crop Stubble is now permitted provided that a Special Fire Permit is obtained from Southern Rural Fire Authority. Full responsibility for any fire is with the Fire Permit holder.

Note: This variation is only for the burning of crop stubble and no other burning can be undertaken. This variation will remain in force until weather or other conditions change.

People planning to burn crop stubble are advised to plan well ahead as an inspection of the site may be required. Applications for a Special Fire Permit can be made by calling 0800 773 363.

This notice is issued pursuant to the Section 24 (1) (b) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 the 11^th day of February 2012.

Michael C Grant

PRINCIPAL RURAL FIRE OFFICER

SOUTHERN RURAL FIRE COMMITTEE

Revocation of Total Fire Ban

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:16:30 +1300

The Southern Rural Fire Committee as Fire Authority for Southern Rural Fire District gives notice to the public the Total Fire Ban (Prohibited Fire Season) currently in force in the District has been revoked from 9.00 am, Saturday, 25 February 2012. This excludes the Naseby Zone where a Total Fire Ban is in place.

1. The public is reminded that a Restricted Fire Season will remain in place.

(a) Incinerators; conditions - incinerator is designed to prevent the escape of fire and ashes, is no closer than five metres to any building, tree, hedge, fence or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire is available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and before dark.

(b) BBQ/Cooking Fires; conditions - fire is no closer five metres to any building, fence, hedge or other combustible material, a water supply sufficient to control any spread of fire must be available, all embers and ashes are totally extinguished after burning and the BBQ is not left unattended, (gas BBQs are preferred).

(d) Hedge/Tree Trimmings (only applies in rural areas); conditions - fire is no larger than two metres by two metres, fire is 30 metres away from and on the downwind side of any shelterbelt, trees, fences, buildings or other combustible material and the wind is blowing away from the above.

No fires are to be lit when conditions are such or are predicted, (eg strong winds) that the fire is likely to spread.

4. People seeking further information or wishing to obtain fire permits can contact the Southern Rural Fire Authority fire permit line during work hours on 0800 773 363. Please allow five working days to process permit applications and undertake inspections of the area concerned.

This notice is issued pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 this 25th day of February 2012.