Dunedin Total Fire Ban Being Lifted Tomorrow

Dunedin (Tuesday, 9 April 2013) – Dunedin’s total fire ban is being lifted tomorrow, but people should continue to be very careful when lighting fires.

A prohibited fire season (total fire ban) has been in place in Dunedin City since 13 March and will be lifted at 6.00am on Wednesday 10 April.

Dunedin City Council Principal Rural Fire Officer Graeme Still says weather station monitoring has shown the fire risk has eased, mainly due to lower temperatures at night.

Lifting the ban will return all rural areas under the jurisdiction of the DCC and the Department of Conservation to a restricted fire season, under which a fire permit is required for any fire in the open air.

Fire permits that were suspended under the ban and have not yet expired become current again and applications for fire permit renewals and new permits can once again be accepted by the DCC Customer Services Agency, phone 477 4000, or the Department of Conservation, phone 477 0677.

Under DCC bylaw provisions, the ban prohibited all outdoor burning in urban areas of Dunedin. Outdoor burning in urban areas can now resume, subject to bylaw conditions. A guideline on burning in urban areas is available from the Customer Services Agency or at www.ruralfiredunedin.govt.nz.

While the fire danger has reverted to levels below those indicating a total fire ban is required, great care should be exercised when carrying out any permitted burning activity. No fire should be left unattended and ashes should be thoroughly extinguished following burning. If wind is experienced, check recent fire sites to ensure embers have not been fanned back to life.

For any fire that may be dangerous or out of control, phone 111.

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