A total fire ban remains in place for Central Otago despite two days of heavy rain in some parts of the district.

According to MetService, there was 13mm of rain in Alexandra from December 24 to 25, with 4.2mm overnight on Christmas Eve and a further 8.8mm on Christmas Day.

Heavy downpours continued on Boxing Day, but those figures were not available before The Central App’s deadline.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said although the past 48 hours had seen some rain across the district, it was important people did not become complacent.

He said Central Otago remains under a prohibited fire season, which meant there was a total ban on open-air fires, and all previously granted fire permits were still suspended.

“It’s still . . . a prohibited fire season and that won’t change until the powers that be make a more informed decision.”

A total fire ban remains in place for Central Otago. IMAGE: Fenz

He said rainfall was not the only factor that would allow a change to come into effect.

“There’s all sorts of things that go into it - humidity, fuel loading, current temperature - everything plays on each other.”

Fireworks are also still banned in Central, as well as in Naseby, Upper Waitaki, Lake Ōhau, Lakes and Glendhu Bluffs zones under Section 52 of the Fire and Emergency Act, until further notice.

The ban came into effect just days after a fire near Clyde earlier this month, which was caused by fireworks.

Crews from five Central Otago fire brigades, along with helicopters carrying monsoon buckets, battled the blaze on a steep hillside above Lake Dunstan.

“That fireworks [message] is huge because they can smolder away for some time, as was the evidence with the fire above the Clyde Dam. The risk is still very high.” 

To keep up to date with weather forecasts, click on The Central App’s weather button.

To find out more about fire restrictions visit the Fire and Emergency New Zealand website.