Fire danger for Franklin

Franklin District Council is keen to remind people of the dangers associated with lighting fires after the recent devastating wild fires at Mahia and Nelson.

Franklin District Council’s Principal Rural Fire Officer Andy Baker says the district’s fire weather indices are at very high or extreme levels, with a Restricted Fire Season in place.

“Permits are currently required for any fire in the open air, however in some parts of the Franklin and Papakura districts these may not be issued due to the extreme fire danger that currently exists. If we don’t receive some relief in the form of sustained rainfall, it’s possible a total fire ban may be introduced across both District’s to keep the risk of wild fires to a minimum.”

In the main residential areas of Franklin no open air fires are permitted.

Mr Baker says there have been a number of call outs for the volunteer fire fighters to small rubbish and vegetation fires.

“It is only due to the skill and dedication of those fire fighters that there have not been larger and more dangerous fires. As things get drier, I urge people to delay wanting to light fires, in particular larger fires, until later in the autumn to reduce risk.”