KEY POINTS:
The Fire Service dealt with a record number of call-outs during the 10-day Guy Fawkes sale period this year.
Preliminary figures released today show there were 1729 fires across New Zealand between October 27 and November 5, compared with 1632 over the same period last year.
Over the weekend, there were 784 fires recorded.
The Fire Service is still calculating exactly how many fires were started by fireworks, but it said it was expected to top last year's record of 700 over the sale period.
This is the fifth year in a row that the number of fires has increased.
Mike Hall, the Fire Service's chief executive and national commander, said the figures vindicate his call for a ban on selling fireworks to the public.
He said today: "Despite warnings and a safety campaign, and even with parts of the country being much wetter than they were last year, firefighters were still called out more times than ever.
"That means that firefighters cannot respond as quickly as they would like to genuine emergencies, and thousands of volunteers across the country are needlessly called away from work and family commitments."
Labour MP Marian Hobbs has drafted a member's bill that would ban the sale of fireworks to individuals but would still allow big community displays to go ahead.
That bill has to go into a ballot and will only be debated if it is picked out.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said today she did not want to be a killjoy but believed something needed to be done in the wake of how some people have used fireworks.
Mr Hall listed a nuber of reasons why he thought firework sales should be banned, including the danger to people, property and pets, and late-night noise.
The lack of a major fireworks-related fire or death was pure luck, he said.
Total fires during Guy Fawkes sale period
(October 27 – November 5)
Year, number of fires
2000, 1017
2001, 702
2002, 827
2003, 905
2004, 1018
2005, 1632
2006, 1729
- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA
