After a prolonged summer drought, the fire ban in Wairarapa was lifted on Monday - and it wasn't long before smoke was seen rising over the district.
With the fire risk downgraded to moderate, Wairarapa Rural Fire District authorities revoked the prohibited fire season across the rural fire district, apart from the Wiltons Rd peat swamp, which will continue under a restricted fire season.
Wairarapa principal rural fire officer Phil Wishnowsky said land owners still needed to be careful. "There's still a lot of dead grass, light fuels around," he said. "People need to make sure, whenever they are lighting up, they are lighting in a safe environment."
If you light a fire, you are responsible for it, he said.
Rains last weekend and cooler temperatures had allowed the fire risk to be downgraded.
