Rain on New Year's Eve has done little to dampen the fire risk in Otago, with parts of the region still as dry as a ''tinder box''.
The warning comes as volunteer fire brigades had a busy night putting out five minor fires across rural Otago on Thursday.
A Fire Service spokesman said two - a fire in bushes near Mitre 10 in Wanaka and a fire lit in pallets at Goldfield Heights in Queenstown - were being treated as suspicious. Another fire at Warrington is believed to have been started by fireworks.
Otago Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer Stephanie Rotarangi said the fire risk was still ''extreme'' across much of Otago, despite the rain.
''The key message is that rain has done little to ease the fire risk around Otago and we have much of Central Otago and Waitaki Lakes district tinder-dry.
''Any fire escaping in these conditions will be very difficult to contain.''
Significant rain over a longer period would be needed. In the meantime, people needed to be extra cautious. This included ensuring machinery was well maintained and fire suppression equipment was on hand when doing work such as mowing lawns.
The five rural call-outs on Thursday night all had the potential to become ''serious'' fires.
''We are just really grateful to the members of the public who dialled 111 quickly.''
However, he was unhappy about the actions of some people.
''It is disappointing to see people ignoring the total fire ban. Our crews are mostly volunteers and they need a break, too,'' she said.
