Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) will host a meeting in Naseby over Easter to help residents limit the risk of a wildfire in the small remote town.

The meeting comes following a devastating wildfire in Ōhau, a remote town in the Mackenzie District in October 2020, which destroyed dozens of buildings and scorched about 5000 hectares of land. 

Naseby Vision chair Adair Craik said the aim of Naseby’s upcoming meeting was to limit the risk and help people prepare.

“We tried to do it straight after [the Ōhau fire] but it was still very raw at the time, so it was quite tricky, and we’ve been really keen to do it.”

Fenz representatives will lead the meeting, taking place at the Naseby Town Hall, Leven St, on Saturday, March 30, from 1pm.

Organisers hoped that having it over Easter would mean more people might be able to attend, including the many who have holiday homes in the township.

A speaker system will be set up outside the hall in case there is not enough room for everyone. 

The meeting comes at a time when the risk of fire has become very real across Central Otago due to extremely dry conditions. 

“It’s so tinder dry so we have to be ready and the more prepared we are, hopefully the better the outcome.”

Adair said it was not known how many would attend, but encouraged everyone associated with the town to go along.

“It’s about educating them, how to protect their home, making it less ignitable [for example] getting rid of leaves, and trees that are high combustion.

“When it happens, it’s so quick that you’ve got to be able to make quick decisions,” she said.

Read more: Fenz thanks Central residents for reducing fire risk