Fire risk sections under spotlight

PROPERTY owners in urban and rural areas are being advised by the Manawatu District Council to take action regarding overgrown sections that have the potential to be fire hazards.

Environmental Health Officer, Kathryn Knightbridge, said sections were starting to dry out as weather temperatures rose and council wanted to be pro-active in an attempt to get on top of the problem.

“Officers are starting to inspect properties that could pose a threat to adjacent sections and will advise land owners of any over-growth concerns,” she said.

Those notified have a month to clear their sections before council carries out the task itself and recovers costs from the property owner.

Ms Knightbridge said owners had a responsibility to keep their sections relatively well kept so the grass did not grow to the stage where, if it combusted, was going to affect other people’s property and possibly threaten lives.

“Most people are pretty responsible, with most of the properties that are overgrown involving an absentee owner who is not keeping a day-to-day eye on the section. Once they have been alerted to the issues, they usually clear it up.”
She said there was now a greater awareness in the community of the fire risks posed by overgrown properties, with owners in the Himatangi Beach and Tangimoana Beach areas showing the way with better maintenance responsibility.

Council has already received a number of calls from people concerned at overgrown sections in their vicinity.
“We immediately carry out an investigation and notify the owner if there is an issue,” said Ms Knightbridge.