Fire restrictions in Otago were lifted this morning as the region moved to an open fire season.
Rain and falling temperatures led the Otago Rural Fire Authority to declare an open season at 6am.
"Basically when we introduce an open season we are saying the fire danger is not as high as it would be for a restricted season,'' authority operations manager Graeme Still said.
"However, like any fire in the open air things can still go wrong. An example of this could be strong winds coming through during or after the fire is lit. This is why we still have conditions for burning in an open season. Also there are certain areas that still require a permit due to the proximity to a conservation estate, forestry blocks or other high-risk sites.
"Moving burns also require a permit. These are burns that are generally carried out amongst standing vegetation or in large windrows.''
Further information could be found on the authority's website otagoruralfire.org.nz and people should contact the authority before lighting a fire, he said.
"All fires that escape are generally unavoidable, so good planning is essential, but all people that light fires should make sure that they have sufficient insurance cover for fire suppression and damage to property,'' he said.
He praised the region's citizens for their actions during the past fire season.
"The Otago Rural Fire Authority would like to thank the public of Otago during what has been an extremely dry fire season ... some areas in the region recording the driest ever records,'' he said.
"During this time damaging fires were minimal and this was due to best practice being adhered to.
"So let's keep up the good work as we move into winter and remember when disposing of those hot ashes make sure they are completely cold and check your smoke alarms.''
The authority can be contacted on 0800 673-473.
