KEY POINTS:
Much of New Zealand is on red alert for fire danger.
Fire Service maps were updated yesterday to show a swath of red down the east coasts of both islands - signifying danger had reached the highest, "extreme" level when fires threaten to become explosive, fast moving and difficult to put out.
As residents of Christchurch, Napier, Gisborne, Masterton and Ashburton sweltered in temperatures above 30C, National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield warned paddocks were so dry, a farmer's plough striking a rock could be enough to spark a fire.
Yesterday, near Kinloch, north of Taupo, sparks from a stone caught in a haybaler started a fire that spread rapidly through 40ha of tussock.
Four helicopters dumped up to 100,000 litres of water from monsoon buckets, and 60 firefighters worked to contain the fire, on land earmarked for an exclusive subdivision overlooking the lake. Firefighters were dampening hot patches last night.
Meanwhile, fire officers in the Far North upgraded a fire ban to cover incinerators and solid fuel barbecues after two fires. Far North principal rural fire officer Lance Johnston said the situation in Australia had been a wake-up call.
"The two fires which developed from incinerators were able to be controlled very quickly. However, there are no guarantees we will be so lucky if there is another incident," he said.
Fire bans are in force in many places, including the North Shore, Hastings, Christchurch, Central Otago, Kaikoura and parts of East Cape.
Mr Dudfield said extreme fire danger was normal for this time of year, warning the drizzle that cooled many cities yesterday would do little to bring down the risk. "We're going through a critical period now," he said. "If we go through the next month without getting a regular rainfall that will start to bring a level of concern to us."
Climatologist Alan Porteous, of Niwa's national climate centre, said soil throughout the North Island (apart from Taranaki) and in the east of the South Island was as dry now as it was at the height of the drought in mid-to-late February last year. Niwa expects the next three months to bring normal or below normal rainfall for much of Otago, Canterbury and Southland.
Forecasts point to at least temporary relief from soaring temperatures today, with rain and thunder for much of the country and showers hitting most places by tomorrow.
The National Rural Fire Authority colour codes fire danger daily from low, moderate, high, very high to extreme, according to how difficult a fire that day would be to put out.
New Zealand's Red Cross and Salvation Army are accepting donations for those affected by the fires in Victoria.
Red Cross: Donations can be made by visiting redcross.org.nz, calling 0900 33 200 to make an automatic $20 donation, sending a cheque to Australian Bushfire Appeal, Red Cross House, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington, 6144, or by visiting any Red Cross service centre.
Salvation Army: Donate online at salvationarmy.org.nz or post to The Salvation Army, PO Box 27001, Marion Square, Wellington, 6164.
