Open Fire Season now operating but please be careful

Franklin District Council has lifted the Restricted Fire Season that has been in place across the District since December. An Open Fire Season is now in operation.

In residential and commercial zoned areas of Pukekohe, Waiuku and Tuakau however it remains prohibited to light a fire in the open unless it is a traditional cooking fire or small contained heating fire such as a brazier. In other residential areas such as rural or coastal residential zones, fires other than traditional cooking or contained heating fires may only be lit within incinerators fitted with lids or spark arrestors.

Franklin District Council Principal Rural Fire Officer Andy Baker stresses that people must remain vigilant when lighting fires during an open season when permits are not required.

“Common sense is the test. It’s been evident both here and more recently in Australia, that fires can change shape and size extremely quickly, especially if they are left unattended and if proper consideration has not been given to those factors which influence fire behaviour.”

The public must take into consideration what is being burned, the area surrounding the fire and proximity to other flammable fuels such as long grass, trees or structures and weather, in particular, the wind.

Mr Baker says, “The responsibility of what happens as the result of a fire will always lie with the person lighting it, so make sure it’s safe and it’s not going to have any adverse affect on neighbours. There’s nothing worse than having an enjoyable autumn evening or weekend ruined through someone else’s fire sending smoke across your property.”

Fires that cause smoke nuisance or create a danger, may be extinguished at the expense of the person who lit it.