Rural Fire Control
Information about fire season status and rules on lighting fires.
Current Fire Season Status
OPEN FIRE SEASON
NB. Areas administered by the Department of Conservation and the Aupouri/Karikari Rural Fire District are controlled by the restrictions declared by those organisations and require permits all year round.
Conditions for hangi, umu, BBQ or bonfire
Is the proposed area for the fire, hangi, umu, BBQ or bonfire:
- near Department of Conservation (DOC) land. If it is, please contact your local DOC office for a permit,
- near areas of established forestry. If it is, please contact the appropriate forestry management company. (For example, north of Awanui and Karikari peninsula have a fire restriction all year round - you must have a permit before lighting any fires in the open air)
If not, is there a fire restriction in place:
- If there IS a Restricted Fire Season in place, a permit is required to have a hangi, umu, BBQ (other than gas BBQ).
- If NO fire restriction is in place for the area, a permit is not required as long as they adhere to the criteria below. However, take certain safety measures to ensure the activity does not cause a nuisance to neighbours or present a risk to property.
Is there a Fire Prohibition in place:
- If there is, NO FIRES in the open air will be allowed throughout the whole Far North District.
- When a total prohibition is put in place, all permits will be cancelled, by notification.
Rules on lighting fires / Fire Seasons
Open Fire season
Any fire in the open must meet the following criteria:
- There must be at least 10 metres of space cleared from combustible materials around the fire site.
- A minimum of one garden length hose shall be available at the fire site to control any "break-out" except in the case of farm paddock fires.
- Farmers with rubbish fires in paddocks are to have on hand a supply of wet sacks and a source of water to keep the sacks wet for the purpose of "beating" any out-breaks that may occur.
- In all cases a minimum of 2 people shall be in attendance at any "fire site" during the period any fire is burning.
- All fires are to be completely extinguished before being left unattended, and a check is to be made that they have not re-ignited 30 minutes later.
- No fire shall be lit or allowed within 500 metres of any bush, scrub or reserve.
Restricted Fire season
- A fire permit is required in a restricted fire season for open fires and these can be obtained from the local fire inspector - please contact us for more information. Allow a minimum of 48 hours for a permit to be processed.
- People should not burn plastic, tyres, wet plant materials, treated timber, paints, household or commercial waste, etc. An alternative to burning is to take rubbish to the Refuse Recycling Station.
Prohibited Season - (Total Ban)
No fires are to be lit when this is in force - please contact us for more information.
Page created/updated: 4 May 2009 at 9:54 am
