Fire and Emergency New Zealand is suspending all fire permits across the Otago Region, which includes Coastal Zone Dunedin, Clutha including Catlins, Waitaki, Central Zone (Central Otago) and Lakes from 12pm on Thursday 1 April until 12pm Tuesday 6 April. 

The central zone includes Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Naseby, Ranfurly, Kurow, Otematata, Omarama and Middlemarch.

Central Otago Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Bobby Lamont says the fire danger is extreme or very high in large parts of the region over Easter.

High winds are forecasted for Central Otago, which will greatly impact any fires. 

Central Otago is in “extreme” fire danger this weekend, with FENZ suspending all fire permits until Tuesday 6 April. Image: FENZ. 

“Severe winds are forecast for Easter Sunday and Easter Monday which will increase the fire danger further and the dry fuels and soil in the region would make containing a fire extremely difficult if one were to occur,” Bobby Lamont says.

“We are therefore also temporarily prohibiting open air fires and certain activities under Section 52 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act in the Otago Central Zone where the fire danger is worst from 6am Sunday 4 April until 6am on Tuesday 6 April.

“Otago remains in a restricted fire season but while these constraints are in place for the Otago Central Zone this means no lighting any outdoor fires, no roadside mowing, no cultivation, no fireworks or pyrotechnic displays and no explosives to be set off in the Otago Central Zone.”

Bobby also asks anyone who has had a burn in the last seven days to check they are completely out.

“The strong winds have the potential to reignite any old burn sites so people should check they are fully extinguished. 

“Dig right down into the site, pour water over it and check with the back of your hand there is no heat.

“We ask people to take the high fire danger in Otago seriously over the holiday weekend and to please obey the restrictions while they are in place.”