Fire restrictions on horizon

Fire restrictions for South and Mid-Canterbury will be in place from midnight tonight as a lack of rain heightens the risk.

The last rainfall in Timaru was on January 3, with just 7mm recorded by Niwa (National Institute of Water Atmospheric Research) so far this year – 14 per cent of the monthly average. The historical average rainfall for January in Timaru is 54.4mm.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said the restrictions meant fires were allowed by permit only.

Met Service communications meteorologist Lewis Ferris said Timaru averages 12 rain days in January but so far this year there were only three – January 1-3.

‘‘The overall theme for the country has been settled weather for January. This has been helped by a large region of high pressure hanging around our shores.’’

The Timaru weather only looks to get warmer over the next week. After a month of temperatures in the mid to high teens, summer looks to be finally arriving tomorrow with a Met Service forecast of 27 degrees Celsius, and 28C for Monday to Wednesday.

Niwa meteorologist Maria Augutis said climate change could not be blamed as the sole reason for extreme weather but it did have an impact.

‘‘There is research being done to see how much climate change impacts on specific weather ... but it is very hard to say what proportion climate change has but we are living in a warming world so we expect this to happen.’’

With an incoming front there could be the odd shower or two but the dryness was expected to continue and increase for the next few weeks with higher temperatures and wind.

‘‘People need be aware and plan accordingly,’’ Augutis said.

South Canterbury Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst said fire restrictions were manageable but a total fire ban was a two-edged sword for farmers as residue stubble left from harvesting was dry and could be a fire risk.

He said farmers had limited choices of what they could do with the residue. They could bale it and and sell it to lifestyle blockers, though there was not a great demand; or buy expensive equipment to cultivate it into the ground, or burn it.

Some modern combine harvesters could chop and distribute stalks evenly but they cost about $500,000.

Farmers and rural residents still had to have a smoke management plan in place in open fire seasons before they could burn anything, and had to have a permit for restricted seasons. Permits were withdrawn during prohibited fire seasons which saw a total ban.

As a a cropping farmer in Makikihi, Hurst is irrigating more than usual at this time.

‘‘For cropping farmers’ harvest, it (dry weather) is ideal. A good rain would be quite welcome for general farmers.’’

South Canterbury Federated Farmers president Jason Grant said the weather was back to a traditional summer and the concern was low stockwater levels for those dependent on creeks.

Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson Carrie Lakin said fire restrictions were only imposed after 17 remote automatic weather stations were monitored.

‘‘We look at each part of the district/each climatic zone and multiple factors because it can be dry in one area and moderate risk in another.’’

She advised the public to be aware of activities which could cause a spark such as mowing lawns, harvesting, four-wheel driving in long grass, and welding or using power tools.

‘‘Plan and prepare, know the risk of your activity, never leave a fire unattended.’’