Summer Fire Season
Fire Restrictions
Current Fire Season & Restrictions
Open Fire Season
Summer Fire Season
Fire Permits
Fire Safety Precautions
Barbeques
Hangi Fires and Braziers
Current Fire Season & Restrictions
|
Fire Ban Lifted However a restricted fire season is still in place on
the peat block of the Hauraki Plains meaning a fire permit must be
obtained before lighting a fire in the open. For permit issues and any enquiries please contact the Hauraki District Council. Please
take the usual safety
precautions listed below. |
The fire ban imposed over the summer season covers the eastern part of the Hauraki district (as described
below) from approximately mid December until mid February the following year.
During this time fires will only be allowed by permit. Public notices are
made at the time of any fire season or when restrictions are imposed.
The summer covers all land east of State Highway 26 from our Northern boundary at the Hikutaia
River through to Paeroa; all land east of State Highway 2 from Paeroa through
Waihi to our Southern boundary at Athenree. █
The fire restrictions that are on the peat block on the Hauraki Plains
█ remain all year round.
All land within 1 kilometre of Department of Conservation Land is also restricted all year round.
For permit issues and any enquiries please contact the
Hauraki District Council.
Barbeques
Gas fired barbeques are not included in a fire ban.
Solid fuelled proprietary, solid fuelled permanent brick, concrete barbeques and
fires in concrete or brick incinerators may be included in a fire ban if the fire
risk is increased to an unacceptable level.
Should the conditions allow the use of the above mentioned fires then the following safety precautions must be adhered to:
Fires to be at least 5m from buildings, timber fences, trees or other combustible materials.
Fires not to be lit under strong wind conditions.
Pressure water system with hose to be available nearby.
Fires to be supervised by an adult.
Fires to be extinguished on completion.
Hangi Fires, Braziers,
Fireworks
Hangi Fires require a fire permit during a fire ban season.
Braziers are classified as a fire in the ‘open air’ and as such their use is
banned during a fire ban season.
Fireworks are classed as a “fire in the open air” and are prohibited during the ban.
Fire Permits
Fire permits may be issued depending on the fire season. Fire permits are
required for all open fires during the summer fire season.
No permits will be issued for open fires during a fire ban.
Conditions of permits (when issued):
| 1. | Open air | “Open air“ means not in a fire place, incinerator, Barbeque, or other place, duly approved in each case. | |
| 2. | Wind etc | Do not light up in a strong wind, or in conditions likely to spread the fire or to present a fire hazard (includes an adverse long-range weather forecast). Check the forecast. | |
| 3. | Patrol | Patrol the fire until completely out or cannot spread | |
| 4. | Notice | Notify neighbours as directed – before lighting a controlled burn. | |
| 5. | Extreme hazard | Permits are Suspended by fire hazard emergency warnings or orders prohibiting all open air fires. Check radio or ring local authority. If fire is essential for an emergency (e.g. stock disease) a special permit would be required. | |
| 6. | Showing Permit | The permit must be produced on demand by a member of Police or Fire Officer. | |
| 7. | Damage | A permit is not a legal defence against claims for damage caused by the fire. The permit holder is always responsible for any damage caused by the fire and suppression costs may also be charged. | |
| 8. | Parks etc | Except where officially signposted otherwise, permits are needed at all times for open fires in National or maritime Parks, in specially protected sites, and in (including their fire safety margins of 1 kilometre) other state areas or forest areas. | |
| 9. | Escape | If the fire gets out of hand, try to extinguish it. Urgently notify the New Zealand Fire Service Commission or a Fire Officer. Ring 111. | |
| 10. | Offences | It is an offence to light an open air fire without the appropriate permit, or to break permit conditions or to let a fire spread to and injure a State area, forest area or specially protected property, or to leave it unprotected against such a spread. | |
| 11. | Joint Permits | Obtain further permits from soil conservation, Crown, or other statutory fire authorities who’s approval is required, if this is not a joint permit signed on their behalf | |
| 12. | Landholder | Separate consent by the landholder may be needed. | |
| 13. | Nuisance | No person shall burn, or permit or suffer to be burnt, any matter or thing in such a manner as to be offensive. | |
| 14. | Revocation | This permit is revocable upon notice at any time without prior warning. |
During the Open Fire Season fires
are allowed in the open air without the need for a permit
to be issued.
There are however some areas in the
Hauraki District that still require a permit to be issued for a fire in the open;
in effect part of our district have a restricted fire season all year round.
Those areas are as follows:
The peat dome on the Hauraki Plains █ (see map).
All land within 1 kilometre of Department of Conservation Land.