Rural Fire Restriction for New Plymouth District

Weeks of dry weather have prompted a fire restriction in rural areas of New Plymouth District from midnight tomorrow (Tuesday).

Permits will be necessary for open-air burning activities including wood and coal-fired barbecues. Incinerators and gas BBQs are permitted.

Anyone planning a hangi should contact the Council first to see if a permit is needed. “We’ll look at hangi in rural areas on a case by case basis,” says General Manager Strategy and Policy Group Frank Versteeg.

“Landowners requiring permits should contact us at least two working days beforehand to allow time for an inspection by a Fire Officer.”

Currently (Monday) New Plymouth District’s build-up indices – which calculate rainfall, wind speed, temperature and relative humidity – are sitting at 90 in Marco in the eastern hill country, 46 in New Plymouth and 34 in Okato. A rating of 40 is considered high and the point at which fire restrictions are put in place.

“Within those indices is what we call a drought code which measures the water depletion of the soil, which right now is very high,” says Mr Versteeg.

Fire restrictions are brought in when the drought code is 200; currently Marco’s drought code is 255, New Plymouth’s is 250 and Okato’s is 165.