Fire risk in mowing roadside vegetation

14 January 2015

Fire risk in mowing roadside vegetation

Federated Farmers are warning farmers and the rural community of the risk in mowing roadside vegetation in the extreme dry conditions.

“The fire environment has reached the point where it has become extremely dangerous and high risk to use a mechanical mower to top paddocks and mow road sides,” says Anders Crofoot, Federated Farmers Rural Fire Spokesperson.

“In the past 14 days Wairarapa Rural Fire District has attended 6 vegetation fires caused by the mowing of the road side or the topping of paddocks. Consequently Wairarapa Rural Fire and the Federation strongly recommend any mowing activity is postponed until weather conditions allow and the fire risk is lower.”

“If you have plans to or continue to mow or top, you should consult your rural fire authority first and have precautions in place to immediately respond to and extinguish any fire.”

“You are liable to pay for any damage and the cost of putting out fires that you have started, so think twice before doing any activity that could start a fire; you will be surprised at what can start a fire in these conditions”

Mr Crofoot added that in the event of any fire dial 111 immediately, stating the location of the fire and what is on fire.

“Another risk is using a firearm; the bullet hitting a hard surface that can cause sparks is also a risk. There has been mention of tracer bullets being sold, which have a burning part of the pellet to provide the trace, which people also need to be made aware of.”

He concluded “Everyone needs to remain vigilant until we start getting some rain, check whether your area is under the Prohibited or Restricted Fire Season and what that means to you.”

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