Open Fire Season in place from March 26

Wet weather has dampened down the district to the point where the Hastings District Council is able to lift the Restricted Fire Season.

An Open Fire Season is active from Saturday March 26. That allows people to light fires during the day. Fires that will burn after dusk still require a permit from Council.

The change in rules does not mean people can be careless, says Council’s principal rural fire officer Trevor Mitchell.

“Do night light fires in windy conditions, near buildings or dry vegetation – all of these situations remain dangerous at any time of the year and in any weather.”

The person who lights a fire is responsible for making sure it is under control and extinguishing it properly before nightfall, Mr Mitchell says.

Fires considered dangerous or which are unattended will be put out by the fire service, with the owner charged for the call out.

“We want people to take care. Fires can get out of control pretty easily and that is not a situation anyone wants to see.”

The lifting of the Restricted Fire Season (in place since December 7) does not apply to Department of Conservation land or in the Bay Forest Rural Fire Districts; in both those cases permits are always required.

ends

© Scoop Media