Fire site clocks danger hour by hour

To keep people informed on the latest data on weather and fire conditions, the Wairarapa Rural Fire District (WRFD) has developed a website which gives updates every hour.

Understanding the fire danger and knowing when it's safe to burn can be tricky.

To keep people informed on the latest data on weather and fire conditions, the Wairarapa Rural Fire District (WRFD) has developed a website which gives updates every hour.

Historically, fire danger information in New Zealand has only been provided to the public once a day at 2pm.

The new website collects data every 10 minutes from six weather stations around Wairarapa and the hourly updates allow people to view weather and fire danger changes over days, weeks and months.

It also provides information on fire seasons and the type of fires that can be lit in each season.

WRFD community and education co-ordinator Grant Detheridge-Davies said the website would also allow people to make online applications for fire permits, something not previously available.

"It's going to be a great benefit to people in the rural areas of the Wairarapa ... farmers [and others] can use the website and now get a permit online," Mr Detheridge-Davies said.

He said encouragement from the National Rural Fire Authority and being an "enlarged" rural fire district were the major drivers of the website.

The WRFD covers about 600,000ha, from the top of the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges to the east coast, and from Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre to Cook Straight and Palliser Bay.

The website will have information on the eight volunteer rural fire forces around the district, in Castlepoint, Tinui, Riversdale, Mauriceville, Wainuioru, Tora, Lake Ferry and Ngawi.

Visit the website at: www.wrfd.org.nz