Firefighters throughout Otago are braced for severe gales and high temperatures as another ''fire spike'' day hits the region.
The Otago Rural Fire Authority's 14 fire forces are on alert today with strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity forecast for most of Otago, deputy principal rural fire officer Graeme Still says.
The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for all of Otago as gusts of up to 160kmh are predicted for the region.
Mr Still called on rural residents and the public to be vigilant as most of the region climbs into extreme fire danger.
''We have had these drying winds over the last week, so it won't take much,'' he said. "And if something does ignite, it will be hard to control.''
The central fire zone is in a prohibited fire season and most of the rest of the region remains in a restricted fire season, meaning only permitted fires can be lit.
He called on landowners to check any controlled burns lit in recent weeks and ensure they were out.
''Anything smouldering will reignite,'' he said. ''They need to double-check that any fires they have lit recently are out and not smouldering.''
Members of the public should not hesitate to report any fires or signs of smoke.
''As soon as they see any smoke, dial 111,'' Mr Still said.
''No-one should be burning - that's just common sense.''
Any fires that did ignite would cause spot fires in the strong winds and people upwind should be cautious, he said.
It is the third fire spike day this season as unseasonably strong winds and dry fuel provide headaches for firefighters.
''Those fine fuels are pretty dry,'' he said.
''We normally get one or two of these wind events a year, but these northwesterlies, we don't normally get them like this until mid to late-December.
''The fire season has started earlier than it normally does. We are getting fires that we wouldn't normally get until January or February.''
While the fire danger would spike across the region today, it would continue to climb until it rained and the winds subsided.
People should be cautious of activities such as mowing their lawns until the fire danger diminished. If such work was necessary, it should be done early in the day, he said.
MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said highs ranging from 23degC-26degC were predicted for Otago today.
Humidity of less than 40% and wind gusts of 130kmh were forecast for most of the region and inland gusts could reach 160kmh, she said.
The severe weather warning was likely to remain in place for most of tomorrow.
''When we get these northwesterly gales, they come over the alps and dry out on the other side and we get this really low humidity,'' she said.
''It's going to be very dry and it's certainly going to be a hot day.
''These things go hand-in-hand.''
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research is predicting one of the driest summers on record as El Nino grips the country.
