Fire a sign of the times

A total fire ban is weeks away says the region’s rural fire boss, as firefighters tackled an old burn-off that flared-up by the wind on Monday.

Principal rural fire officer for Marlborough and Kaikoura, John Foley, said a wet winter had prevented Marlborough from totally drying out and Monday’s fire was a warning to people to check their fires were completely out.

This was a two-week old burnt pile of rubbish, which still had some residual embers, that got blown into dry grass – starting a minor fire.

Since this wasn’t a major blaze, an early fire ban wouldn’t be activated, however, there will be some restrictions closer to Christmas, Foley said.

‘‘But this is a warning for people to go and check their burnt pile with a shovel to see that there is no hot ember sitting there, especially now we are getting warmer windier days’’. If the pile is still hot, ‘‘spread ash safely and let it cool down or apply water’’, he said.

This ‘‘is one of the highest causes of fire in the country, where people either leave the fire unattended or burnt, and they think the fire is out,’’ Foley said.

‘‘But it’s just like miniature ha¯ngi sitting there. Hot in the middle that might look cold from the outside, but unfortunately there is still some residual heat in there and if the conditions are right, it tops out.’’

This fire did not cause any significant damage to the property but it did have the potential of getting to the house, Foley said.

‘‘If it hadn’t been noticed as quickly as it did’’, ‘‘it [day] was slightly cooler with temperature of about 20 degrees, but it would have been a whole different fire if we had the same thing with the temperature reaching 30 degrees.’’ he said.

As temperatures rise across the region these kinds of fire are going to be more and more regular if people don’t start thinking of some of the activities they engage in, Foley said.

‘‘Mowing on the heat and driving through long dry grass on a four wheeler – just before Christmas and afterwards – people shouldn’t be doing these activities because they are a good source of ignition.’’

This fire was started by a two week old burnt pile of rubbish, cold on the outside but hot in the middle. RAHUL BHATTARAI/STUFF

Marlborough fire trucks parked outside Giesen winery, Wither Hills, while the crew was busy attending a fire. They had the fire under control within half an hour.