Wairarapa fire season kicks off

BIG EFFORT: Volunteer brigades across South Wairarapa and Carterton, plus rural fire force volunteers from Ngawi and Lake Ferry, helped extinguish this 3.5ha blaze at Tauherenikau on Christmas Day.

This summer is expected to be warm, dry and windy - and that's not good news for the rural fire force.

Wairarapa's restricted fire season will start this Wednesday, with fire crews already busy tackling vegetation fires across the districts.

The start of the restricted season means a permit will be required for the entire rural fire district, covering all rural land in Carterton, Masterton and South Wairarapa districts, plus Department of Conservation land.

This includes campfires, bonfires, rubbish fires, wood fired barbecues, braziers, fireworks, thermettes, Chinese Lanterns, welding plants, portable forges, and incinerators.

A permit is not required for gas-fired barbecues.

Grant Detheridge-Davies, rural fire officer and community co-ordinator, said although the weather was unsettled in December, fire danger in Wairarapa has been slowly building.

"The fire danger is now at a point where restrictions on fires in the open are necessary to protect the loss of property and risk to people in the region."

Phill Wishnowsky, the Principal Rural Fire Officer for the Wairarapa Rural Fire District, said the forecasted rain in the coming week will not affect the fire danger level for long.

"The current medium term forecasts indicate the rest of the summer could be warm, dry and windy - a combination that is not such good news for rural fire personnel.

"Everyone is urged to take a few simple precautions to reduce the risk and threat of fire.

"Actions such as keeping roadside grass verges short, keeping long grass and dry vegetation away from buildings, keeping trees and other vegetation away from power lines, keeping driveways and other access open and clear for fire engine access, and making sure rural property is clearly numbered and identified."

The fire force reminds campers a Wairarapa Prohibited Fire Season is in effect 365 days a year for Kiriwhakapapa camp ground, Kiriwhakapapa Road; Waiohine camp ground, 926 Waiohine Gorge Road; Bucks Rd camp ground, Featherston; Corner Creek camp ground, Rimutaka State Forest Park and Pinnacles camp ground, Cape Palliser Rd.

No fires may be lit in the open air during a prohibited fire season.