Wildfires, like the one in Puketapu in 2019, are increasingly more likely in Napier. Photo / Warren Buckland
Wildfires, like the one in Puketapu in 2019, are increasingly more likely in Napier. Photo / Warren Buckland
Napier has been identified as one of six areas in New Zealand that has an increasing wildfire risk, with firefighters ready to adapt region-wide.
A report by Statistics New Zealand and the Ministry of Environment identified Napier, Gisborne, Lake Tekapo, Masterton, Gore and Queenstown as areas with a 'very likely'increasing wildfire risk.
The New Zealand Fire Danger Rating indicator measures the number of 'very high and extreme' (VH+E) days across 30 sites nationwide between 1997 and 2019.
Across the country, the areas with the highest annual average number of VH+E days between 2010 and 2019 were Lake Tekapo (36 days), Napier (30 days), Tara Hills (27 days) and Blenheim (23 days).
The number of VH+E days in Napier has increased almost nine-fold since the system was introduced, rising from four in 1997 to 35 in 2019.
The Hawke's Bay city's highest number of VH+E days came in 2014, when there were 56 very high and extreme (VH+E) fire danger days.
The report, which states there are between 3000 and 4000 wildfires in New Zealand each year, says wildfires can lead to loss of life, property and important habitats and is expected to increase.
"Smoke from wildfires can impact human health through reduced air quality, as well as air travel via reduced visibility," it stated.
"Fire danger in many parts of New Zealand is expected to increase due to higher temperatures, stronger winds, and lower rainfall and humidity associated with climate change."
Fire danger signs, like this one in Whirinaki, will change depending on the risk of fires in that area. Photo / Warren Buckland
Fire and Emergency New Zealand have held public consultations over the trial of new regional-specific fire plans for Hawke's Bay, Northland and Otago.
Wildfire expert Graeme Still said the new schemes will aim to reduce the risk of fire and increase community resilience by creating a fire plan with different regulations for each region.
"The fire plan outlines the policies and procedures to achieve this at a local level and centres on the management of public safety and risk related to fire," he said.
"But, each of the fire plans is specific to the region, with regional input making up the contents, as oppose to a one rule for all proposal."
Declaring the beginning and end of the fire season, prohibiting and restricting fire usage and the issuing of fire permits are amongst the categories that will be focused on in the region's new fire plan.
"Hawke's Bay has a lot of the same main fire risks as the rest of the country, but where it differs is the time of the year when the incidents happen," Still said.
Still said Hawke's Bay suffers issues with discarded ashes and has increased activity in spark related fires from mowing, grinders and welders.
"You can have an increase in spark related incidents in December, where as another part of the country may experience those types of incidents might not occur until February," he said. "Plus Hawke's Bay dries out a bit quicker than some other parts of New Zealand.
"And that is where the regional input comes into play, with different incidents occurring at different times of the year, depending on where you are."
Development and consultation of the fire plans are expected to take place in April this year.
