Total fire ban over Southland Rural Fire District

Posted on 5 January 2012

A total fire ban for all of Southland and parts of the Clutha District covered by the Southern Rural Fire Authority will be in place from 8am today (Thursday 5 January). The ban means that no one can light any fires in the open and also suspends all existing fire permits. Principal rural fire officer Mike Grant said people with large piles of debris still burning should put these out immediately. "The only exception to the ban is for gas barbecues and cookers in properly constructed containers and in safe areas," Mr Grant said.

The fire ban also applies to all townships within the Southland District, Gore District and Invercargill City and also prohibits people in these towns from burning rubbish, using incinerators, or cooking outdoors with open braziers or hangis.

Because of the continued hot and dry weather and the warm wind, the fire risk is very high to extreme throughout most of Southland. While some rain is forecast for the next few days it is not predicted to be sufficient to significantly drop fire danger levels.

"With weather conditions predicted to continue and reduced vegetation moisture, it will rapidly elevate the fire danger further," he said.  "The ban has been imposed for public safety".

Activities, such as chain sawing or using machinery like mowers or tractors, are also potentially hazardous. 

"Several recent fires have started from people using machinery in dry grass and roadsides. There is a lot more dead grass than normal so everyone needs to be particularly careful and have water on hand to dampen down the area beforehand and to extinguish any fires starting from sparks. If areas continue to dry out, restrictions could be imposed on activities which have a high risk of causing fires," he said.

Significant rain over an extended period is needed before the ban would be lifted.