Restricted fire season remains in Manawatu

A RESTRICTED fire season for the Manawatu District remains in place despite heavy rainfalls in the region last week.

Principal Rural Fire Officer, Tony Groome, said it would only take four to five days of drying conditions for Manawatu and surrounding districts to return to a state that required caution.

“If we get more substantial rain we’ll probably look at the situation,” he said, “but there are no immediate plans to lift the restriction.”

An extended dry spell has been forecast for Manawatu.

The restriction - declared last Wednesday and also covering the Palmerston North, Rangitikei and Horowhenua Districts - means that anyone wanting to burn rubbish now requires a permit, which is free and available from local authorities.

Mr Groome requested property owners seeking permits to be aware that councils needed up to five days to process the application and carry out a mandatory site inspection.