Rotorua residents are putting themselves in the firing line of up to $250,000 in firefighting costs by flouting the fire ban.
Despite some rain the total fire ban is still in place but the Rotorua Fire Brigade has been called out to at least three a day over the past week.
Fire safety officer Stu Bootten said these were only the fires that people had called in and there were bound to be more.
The total fire ban will be lifted on Monday but permits are still required to light a fire on private property. "The vegetation is still very dry and there needs to be a continued safety message," Mr Bootten said.
"The grapefruit sign is still reading high - that means people have to take responsibility if they light a fire. There was a fire lit in the Waikite Valley on Saturday, Rural Fire were there until Sunday and they've left it in the control of the farmer."
He said anyone who lights a fire that requires a fire callout of more than an hour will be billed and these costs can reach $250,000.
From Monday there will be a restricted fire season for the Rotorua district. This means a permit is required from the relevant fire authority - usually Rotorua District Council - to light a fire in the open air.
There are a number of restrictions to fires in the urban area. Fires need to be contained, preferably in an incinerator which has a lid or minimum of chicken wire to cover. The fire must be at least 5m from any boundary or building and there must be a firefighting medium, such as a garden hose, at hand. Anyone who lights a fire under a permit must watch the fire at all times and it must be out by dark.
"People either don't know [the ban remains] or they are flaunting the rules," Mr Bootten said.
The restricted fire season runs until the end of April.
Despite some rain the total fire ban is still in place but the Rotorua Fire Brigade has been called out to at least three a day over the past week.
Fire safety officer Stu Bootten said these were only the fires that people had called in and there were bound to be more.
The total fire ban will be lifted on Monday but permits are still required to light a fire on private property. "The vegetation is still very dry and there needs to be a continued safety message," Mr Bootten said.
"The grapefruit sign is still reading high - that means people have to take responsibility if they light a fire. There was a fire lit in the Waikite Valley on Saturday, Rural Fire were there until Sunday and they've left it in the control of the farmer."
He said anyone who lights a fire that requires a fire callout of more than an hour will be billed and these costs can reach $250,000.
From Monday there will be a restricted fire season for the Rotorua district. This means a permit is required from the relevant fire authority - usually Rotorua District Council - to light a fire in the open air.
There are a number of restrictions to fires in the urban area. Fires need to be contained, preferably in an incinerator which has a lid or minimum of chicken wire to cover. The fire must be at least 5m from any boundary or building and there must be a firefighting medium, such as a garden hose, at hand. Anyone who lights a fire under a permit must watch the fire at all times and it must be out by dark.
"People either don't know [the ban remains] or they are flaunting the rules," Mr Bootten said.
The restricted fire season runs until the end of April.
The grapefruit sign is still showing a high risk of fire.
RSS Feed
