‘Extreme’ fire risk to close Molesworth Station road

which could

Bradfield said.

‘‘It’s also not unknown that people driving through are smokers, and throw their cigarette butts out onto the side of the road,’’ he said.

‘‘A lot of people also stop for picnics and kick up a camp cooker.’’

Bradfield said Molesworth and the Clarence catchment were ‘‘one of the driest places in New Zealand’’.

‘‘We also had a very wet and warm winter and spring, which contributed to a large amount of vegetation growth, which is now dry fuel for a fire,’’ he said.

A fire could cause devastating damage to the reserve’s diverse and significant native plant life and farm pasture, Bradfield said.

‘‘Molesworth is an area of national ecological significance, spark a fire, with over 70 threatened native plant species, a quarter of which are acutely threatened,’’ he said.

Signage warning motorists of the closure would be placed at the Hanmer Springs and State Highway 1 turnoffs, he said.

Bradfield said DOC would continue to monitor the situation and work with FENZ to determine when the road could be reopened to the public.

It could reopen if Molesworth saw rain in the next month, or if fire levels dropped below certain trigger points, he said.

‘‘However, given the long-term forecast for Marlborough through to autumn, it’s unlikely that the road will be reopened soon.’’

The Acheron Rd opened to the public each year from October to March, depending on the weather. Travellers could check the latest road status on the Molesworth Station and Acheron Road pages of the DOC website.