Rural fires in Otago and Southland have prompted the Otago Regional Council (ORC) to remind rural and peri-urban communities to prepare carefully for any intended burnoffs - given the many dry areas around Otago at present.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) attended a vegetation fire across about 2ha at Mount Pisa between Wanaka and Cromwell on Tuesday.

Manager compliance Carlo Bell said despite the cool climate in coastal Otago in recent weeks, many parts of inland Otago are in fact tinder dry at present and pose a heightened fire risk.

“Because Otago is very dry in many places, the ORC is urging people to check weather forecasts and take great care around any permitted or lawful property burn-offs they are intending,” he said.

People needed to check the fire season status for their part of Otago and have any permits from FENZ as well as meeting regional council rules.

Central Otago and Upper Waitaki zones in Otago have been under a restricted fire season until further notice since December 16, so no burning was permitted in those areas currently. 

Carlo highlighted the MetService forecast for Central Otago for the next week only had a few isolated showers forecast, so dry conditions would likely persist.

“This should remind people to be extra careful around all outdoor fires, be it burnoffs or smaller outdoor fires, and when using machinery in dry areas, such as mowers or farm machinery,” he said.

Better burning

• If burning permitted material was your only option, you should reduce smoke and burn safely and considerately.
• Burn as far from your property boundary as possible.
• Check that the wind is predicted to be away from built-up areas for the duration of the fire.
• Postpone the lighting of your fire if there's already smoke from other fires in the air.
• Make smaller fires.
• Use dry fuel and stack it loosely.
• Don't let the fire smoulder.
• Avoid burning in the early morning or late afternoon/evening (breezier daytime conditions help to disperse the smoke).
• Avoid burning when there is an inversion layer.
• Be prepared to put the fire out if conditions change or you discover that you are causing a nuisance.
• Ensure burning on the property is permitted under the Air Plan.
• Check the fire season status and have FENZ permission as needed.

Different types of outdoor burning

There are three different types of outdoor burning:

• Industrial burning
• Backyard fire
• Vegetation/forestry burn off

Complying

An outdoor fire – such as a brazier, a controlled rural burn-off, or a hangi – must comply with Otago Air Plan rules.

Having a permit from Fire and Emergency NZ does not necessarily mean your burning is permitted under Otago Air Plan rules.

FENZ sets fire seasons, tracks daily fire danger, and issues permits to burn.

Their rules depend on what kind of fire you have and whether it's an open, restricted or prohibited season. Before you

light a fire, check your plan at checkitsalright.nz and get a permit if you need one. You must also follow the Otago Air

Plan rules for what you can burn and where the fire is.

Ok to burn

• Untreated wood
• Paper
• Cardboard
• Vegetation (must not be green)

What not to burn

Burning these kinds of materials can release harmful toxins into the air. 

• Treated wood
• Off cuts from building sites (avoid treated wood, wood with nails, glue or other contaminants)
• Old decking
• Rubbish
• Green waste
• Plastic
• Clothes
• Electronics
• Disposable nappies

FENZ website www.checkitsalright.nz

Further ORC burning information, visit https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/air-care/outdoor-burning/

If people observe pollution to water, air, or land in Otago, call the ORC’s Pollution Hotline which is staffed 24/7 on 0800 800 033 to report it.