Big risk sparks fire ban

DRY: Tararua people are urged to save water. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Relentless hot weather and tinder dry conditions underfoot have led to a decision to impose a total fire ban throughout the Tararua District from 8am Monday.

The district's Rural Fire Authority has settled on the ban in conjunction with the Department of Conservation. The ban will coincide with one imposed by the Central Hawke's Bay Rural Fire Authority, which will come into effect at the same time.

Tararua's principal rural fire officer Paddy Driver said yesterday the fire ban would cover all town and rural areas, along with all DoC land.

Rural fire officers would continue to monitor the fire risk situation each day, Mr Driver said.

Information from rural fire weather stations showed the fire danger level in Tararua was now "extreme".

There was a lot of dry fuel such as long grass within the district which posed a major threat, Mr Driver said, and the spell of fine weather was set to continue well into February. Conditions were tinder dry "out there".

The total fire ban covers town and rural areas of the district along with all DoC land.

Mr Driver said the ban would be lifted as soon as it was considered safe to do so.

Fire status information and advice is available on the Tararua District Council website at www.tararuadc.govt.nz