Extreme Central conditions prompt openair fire ban

OPENAIR fires are now prohibited in parts of Central Otago and North Otago as a senior firefighter warns the region is a tinderbox.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand yesterday enacted a prohibited fire season in the Central zone due to the extreme fire danger.

There is now a total ban on lighting any fires in the open in an area that includes Naseby, Ranfurly, Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Wanaka, Luggate, Hawea, Omarama and Otematata.

Otago principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said the ‘‘extreme’’ fire risk meant any blaze in the Central zone would be nearimpossible to extinguish, and firefighters could only hope to steer it.

‘‘A spark will start a fire in Central. Any fire in the open air is a prohibited activity.

‘‘What we’re saying now is the fire danger level has got to a point where we wouldn’t even issue a permit, and we do not want fires in the open air.

‘‘If we do have a fire it will be hard for us to contain.’’

The powderkeg conditions meant residents should be cautious about any activity liable to send sparks flying, for example using a grinder or mowing lawns.

He urged residents to leave their mowing until dawn or dusk when the fire risk was lower.

Those wanting to use a grinder were urged to hold off until a shower of rain, or wet the surrounding area beforehand.

While rain was forecast for Thursday and Friday, it would not be enough to reduce the extreme fire risk, Mr Still said.

‘‘People may say ‘why are we going prohibited when it will rain on Thursday or Friday?’

‘‘The answer is it won’t be enough to bring the fire danger rating down . . . It’ll just shoot back up again on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.’’

Asked if he was worried about the fire risk in the zone, Mr Still was unequivocal.

‘‘I’m always worried when we get to extreme fire danger.

‘‘It’s my job to worry when we reach this threshold.’’

In the rest of Otago and Southland, a restricted fire season is in place, meaning a permit is needed to light an openair fire.

❛ I’m always worried when we get to extreme fire danger. It’s my job to worry when we reach

this threshold

NELSON: Hundreds of relieved residents evacuated three days ago over fears the rampaging Tasman bushfire was heading towards them were yesterday glad to return to their homes.

Firefighters yesterday were continuing to battle the massive blaze from the land and air, six days after it was seemingly sparked by a contractor ploughing a tinderdry field.

Authorities admitted yesterday the fire, about 30km south of Nelson and largely burning in forestry plantations, was not yet under control and could take weeks, even months, to put out.

At 4pm yesterday, the 3000 residents of Wakefield were told by Civil Defence controller Roger Ball they could go home.

Jeff and Rose Wray were some of the first to return, escorted by police officers and soldiers who were going to patrol the town’s streets overnight.

‘‘It’s good to be back finally . . . It’s good to have a home to come home to,’’ Mr Wray said, as helicopters buzzed up Pigeon Valley behind his house, where it all started last Tuesday.

‘‘It’s pretty hard on everybody in the community who had to leave.

‘‘A lot of people didn’t wanna go, us included, but you gotta do what you gotta do to try and help the emergencies services out, who are doing their bit to make everybody safe.’’

It was a closeknit community, Rose said, and they had been leaning on each other for support.

Acting Tasman district commander Inspector Zane Hooper said people should not become complacent because they could not see flames. He urged Wakefield residents to be ready to evacuate at any time. — NZME