Dunedin Fire Risk Under Control

1 February 2013

Dunedin is holding its own as the fire risk in some areas soars.

With the recent warm weather and large vegetation fires occurring in other parts of the country, residents may be wondering about the situation for Dunedin.

Dunedin City Council Manager, Civil Defence and Rural Fires Neil Brown says the long-term fire risk in Dunedin has been held at lower levels by the occasional rainfalls and the relatively high humidity on many days.

“Dunedin’s risk is still at ‘moderate-to-high’ and well below levels where a fire ban might be contemplated.”

Despite the moderate long-term risk, there may be short periods where high temperatures, lower humidity and wind can create conditions that make it more likely for fires to start from accidental causes and to spread more rapidly.

“So care should always be exercised with ignition sources and when carrying out permitted burning activities.”

Mr Brown says the DCC has a series of automatic weather stations around rural areas that enable staff to closely monitor fire risk conditions.

ENDS

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