Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging residents in Southland to take extra care when burning storm debris, after a series of hedge fires over the past ten days. These incidents have raised concerns about avoidable fire outbreaks during a time when the region is still recovering from late October’s severe weather.
District Manager Julian Tohiariki said the main issue is the careless way some people are handling burn-offs. "People have been setting fire to debris from the big winds at the end of October, without giving enough thought to where they have built their piles. They’re often much too close to hedges, shelterbelts and other vegetation."
The second major cause is the failure to consider weather conditions before lighting fires. "At this time of year we do expect windy conditions and unsettled weather," Tohiariki explained. "A fire that is not properly extinguished can reignite days later in windy conditions so we ask people to be aware of this and check that any fires they have lit are actually out. Wind will fan the flames, blow embers around and make it much harder to keep control of their fire."
He said these fires can quickly escalate, often requiring emergency calls and responses from volunteer fire brigades. These volunteers are not only giving up their time but are also dealing with the storm’s impact on their own properties and work.
"This is putting a lot of pressure on our volunteer firefighters at a time when they are also really busy on their own properties," he said. "Many of them are farmers themselves. They are also dealing with damage from the storm and doing their regular jobs at the same time."
"They always want to help their community but none of them want to be dealing with these completely avoidable fires."
Fire and Emergency recommends that anyone planning to use fire for land management check the conditions first at checkitsalright.nz The site offers advice on safe burning and lets people know if they need a permit.
They’ve also shared these tips to help prevent fires:
- Burn piles should be placed at least 30 metres from trees, hedges, sheds, or powerlines.
- Create a 5-metre fire break around the burn site to help prevent the fire spreading.
- Always check local conditions and restrictions before lighting up.