27 January 2004

Take extra care playing with matches

Tinder dry conditions at Waitakere City mean that residents need to be extra careful with matches, lighters, cigarettes and the back yard barbeque.

A carelessly discarded cigarette is believed to be the cause of a small scrub fire at Waikumete Cemetery last Saturday around 2pm says cemetery manager Graeme Resnick.

Residents in the rural part of the City wanting to light a fire in the open air must apply for a permit during the restricted fire season which continues until 30 April. Permits can be obtained free by phoning the Council’s Call Centre.

Residents in urban areas do not need a permit for backyard fires, as long as they comply with Council bylaws – the fire must be burning between sunrise and sunset, must be more than three metres of a neighbour’s fence and should not create a smoke nuisance. Water must also be readily available to extinguish the fire if necessary.

ENDS

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