Rural Fire Canterbury - Archived media releases

Archived Media releases

Thursday, 20 December 2007

Fire danger extreme in ‘Great Southern Lands’

Extreme fire danger has prompted the Department of Conservation to place a total fire ban over conservation lands in the Great Southern Lands of Ashburton Lakes and Mackenzie Basin.

The ban takes affect from this Saturday 22 December until further notice on all public conservation lands.

“The ban is being assessed daily, and will probably remain in place until we get substantial rain penetrating into the dry ground,” says Tony Teeling, Technical Support Officer, Fire.

“Despite the recent southerlies dampening things down, it’s only a temporary respite until the next hot nor-wester,” says Mr Teeling.

“It could take only one or two days of hot dry conditions to dry fuels to a point where one spark could start a blaze, which can burn fast and hot and be very hard to stop.

“These areas are well-used by people fishing, walking and mountain-biking; if a fire took off down a valley, it could pose a threat to life and property,” he said.

Under the Forest and Rural Fires Act, DOC is the Rural Fire Authority responsible for preventing and controlling fire on public conservation land and within one kilometre of these lands, plus all unoccupied crown land.

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007

Garden Clean up Recommended to Reduce Fire Hazard

Canterbury’s rural fire fighters are calling on residents to carry out a garden and vegetation clean up.

Canterbury Rural Fire Co-ordinating Committee spokesman, Tony Teeling, says the current warm conditions are significantly increasing fire risk throughout the region.

“The warm conditions are certainly a big concern for us and we are asking residents to remove the excess vegetation now. This eliminates possible fuel around homes and properties.”

Landowners and residents are advised to clear away all vegetation close to houses and outbuildings, including dead plants and long branches on live trees and shrubs. Long grass should be mowed and empty sections should be cleared.

Mr Teeling said residents should also be mowing their lawns on a regular basis.

Rural Fire Officers are also advising people to reduce the fire risk around their homes by cleaning rain gutters and down pipes and connecting a garden hose for immediate use. In rural areas, water supplies should be sign posted and there should be clear access routes suitable for fire trucks.

Rural landowners and farmers are asked to check on earlier fires or burn-off to ensure they have been put out. Recent strong winds have whipped up earlier fires into life and have threatened to spread into dry grass and shelter belts. Residents need to be aware of forecasted weather conditions prior to lighting fires.

For further information contact:
Tony Teeling
Department of Conservation
Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer
Phone (03) 371 3700
Mobile: (027) 281 67709
or
Sara McBride Steele
Communications Officer
Environment Canterbury
Phone: 03-372-7015
Mobile: 021-928-908

Wednesday, June 13th, 2007

Fire restrictions are now lifted in most areas except where fire authorities have year-round restrictions in place. These areas are:

Ashley Rural Fire District
Burnham Rural Fire District
West Melton Rural Fire District
Tekapo Military Training Area
Department of Conservation.

Some authorities also have year round restrictions on hill and high country areas. If in any doubt, check with your local authority or council.
Find out about outdoor burning restrictions on the ECan website.

14th May, 2007

There are currently no fire restrictions in Canterbury.

Fire Danger Prompts Vehicle Ban

19th April, 2007

Public notice is given under section 22(2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 that from the18th day of April 2007 the prohibited fire season imposed on the 21st of February 2007 is now cancelled and an all year RESTRICTED FIRE SEASON applies to all lands administered by the Department of Conservation that are State Areas, and to the fire safety margins of any such State Areas, within the area described in the Schedule.

In National Parks no fire shall be lit in the open air except pursuant to the authority of the Director General of Conservation.

In all other areas administered by the Department no fire shall be lit in the open air except pursuant to a written permit from a rural fire officer.

The following activities are permitted within the restricted fire season:

Barbecues lit in properly constructed containers and fuelled with gas, solid or liquid fuel.
Cooking fires at camp sites lit within a concrete or stone surround and with no less than 3 metres of clear ground surrounding the container.
Crop residue burns are covered by a separate authority and do not require a permit provided the following conditions are complied with:

a. The Canterbury / West Coast Regional Rural Fire Committee “Best Practice for Crop Residue Burning” is adhered to.
b. Fires may be lit at any time during the hours of daylight, providing all other conditions are met. Fires must not be lit, or allowed to burn after dark.
c. There must be a continuous non-combustible firebreak, of not less than five metres, around the area to be burnt.
d. No fire shall be lit while a strong wind is blowing or when conditions are such that the fire is likely to spread beyond the area for which the authority was issued. Maximum allowable wind strength is 19 kph (Beaufort 3).
e. Obtain a weather forecast (NZ Met Service, 0900 999 25 Canterbury Plains, or 0900 999 26 Canterbury High Country).
f. Notify occupiers of neighbouring properties likely to be affected by smoke drift.
g. The fire must be patrolled until it is completely out.

Provided that no such fires shall be lit when high or gusty winds are prevailing

People seeking further information or wishing to obtain fire permits or a copy of the Best Practice for Crop Residue Burning can contact the appropriate Department of Conservation office.

Department of Conservation, Christchurch
(03) 379 9758
Mahaanui Area (North Canterbury)
(03) 371 3706
Akaroa Field Centre
(03) 304 1000
Waimakariri Area
(03) 313 0820

Arthurs Pass Field Centre
(03) 318 9211
Hanmer Field Centre
(03) 315 7154
Raukapuka Area
(03) 693 1010
Twizel Area
(03) 435 1819

Schedule

Ashburton Lakes and Mackenzie Basin areas to the Main Divide, that are west of a line from the Rakaia River, up Glenrock Stream to Turtons Saddle, thence a direct line to Mount Taylor, Mount Barrosa and the Rangitata River at Boundary Stream, thence up Boundary Stream to Coal Hill, following the District Council Boundary to Mount Musgrove, thence along the top of the Two Thumb, Rollesby and Dalgety Ranges to the Hakataramea Pass, thence along the Hakataramea Road to Kurow.

The area is bordered to the south following a line along the Kurow River, the top of the Ida, Hawkdun, Wether and Dunstan Ranges to Lindis Pass, thence along the top of the range dividing the Waitaki and Clutha catchments to the Main Divide.

The area is bordered to the north by the Rakaia and Mathias Rivers, following the District Council Boundary to the Main Divide.

M.J. Cuddihy
Conservator Canterbury
(Principal Rural Fire Officer acting under delegated authority from the Minister of Conservation)

5th April, 2007

Extreme fire danger has prompted the Department of Conservation to ban vehicles on public conservation lands around Ashburton Lakes and Mackenzie Basin. The move comes after a spate of fires in Canterbury parks and reserves over the last few weekends, some believed caused by vehicle use off-road.

A fire above Lake Clearwater inland from Ashburton is believed to have started by motorbikes being ridden in extremely dry grassland areas,” said Tony Teeling, fire technical support officer for DOC.

“Conditions out there are so dry it only takes one spark to start a blaze, which can burn fast and hot and be very hard to stop. These areas are well-used by people fishing, walking and mountain-biking; if a fire took off down a valley, it could pose a threat to life and property,” he said.

Most of the Canterbury region now has fire restrictions in place, with total fire bans in the Mackenzie Basin and Ashburton Lakes areas. In other places, fire dangers are being reviewed daily to ensure the right restrictions are in place.

“Yes, we’ve had rain on the coast and in the mountains but there’s a big piece in the middle over the foothill areas that has missed out - we just can’t take the risk,” said Mr Teeling.

The vehicle ban is effective immediately and will remain in place until fire dangers lower. Gates across some access roads will be locked, with signs outlining the reasons for the temporary closure. DOC staff will be patrolling the Ashburton Lakes area over Easter.

DOC is the Rural Fire Authority responsible for preventing and controlling fire on public conservation land, all unoccupied crown land (including crown riverbeds) and within one kilometre of these lands.

Canterbury DOC fire fighters have been called out to 11 fires in the last two months.

Mass Vegetation Clean up Recommended to Reduce Fire Hazard

5th December, 2006

Canterbury’s rural fire fighters are calling on residents to carry out a massive garden and vegetation clean up, following cool, wet spring conditions.

Canterbury Rural Fire Co-ordinating Committee spokesman, Tony Teeling, says the wet conditions have resulted in excessive vegetation growth, significantly increasing fire risk.

"The rain, while it gave an initial slow start to the fire season, is now creating a greater fire hazard. The vegetation is growing taller and faster than during drier years. Once the rain stops for the summer, the vegetation will continue to grow and then dry out. By removing the excess vegetation now, it eliminates possible fuel around homes and properties."

Mr Teeling said residents should also be mowing their lawns on a regular basis. He said the snow in Canterbury over the winter had further added to the fire hazard, especially in rural areas, where a number of branches had broken off trees. These have now dried out and would provide fuel for a fire.

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