South Canterbury landowners urged to pay attention to dry conditions

In the midst of wide-ranging restrictions governing the lighting of fires in the rural areas of South Canterbury, there is concern landowners are not paying enough attention to rapidly drying conditions.
The fire season status at present is classed as ‘‘restricted'' in the Mackenzie Basin, Hakataramea Valley and within 1km of the Geraldine and Waimate Forests. This means permits are required for anything more than a cooking fire.

However, the coastal strip of South Canterbury is still in an open fire season, which means no permits are required.

But principal rural fire officer for South Canterbury Rob Hands says landowners are not taking into consideration the changing fire environment and the drying conditions.

‘‘They need to be reminded that with or without a permit they are required to be on site at all times,'' Mr Hands said.

Common sense applied, he said.

‘‘Before lighting up, landowners need to check the weather forecasts, monitor any changes, and don't light up if there is the prospect of strong or gusty winds,'' Mr Hands said.

His warning follows a report from scientists that shows a heightened risk of uncontrolled rural fires in New Zealand because of climate change for the rest of this century.

The findings are contained in a report to the Fire Service Commission by scientists at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

The report said the increased risk was particularly high in the east of both islands from Gisborne to Wairarapa and Marlborough to Canterbury.

Niwa climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger said in the report that dangerous fire weather resulted from a combination of strong winds, high temperatures, low humidity and seasonal drought.

‘‘These conditions are expected to increase with global warming and the associated climate change and hence increase the number of days when very high and extreme forest fire danger occurs. This is likely to lead to an increase in the number and extent of rural fires,'' Dr Salinger said.

New Zealand had about 3000 uncontrolled rural fires a year, burning about 7000ha of land.

‘‘The drier, windier weather expected with climate change will lead to easier ignition, faster fire spread, greater areas burned, and increased fire suppression costs and damage.

Increased frequency of drought will lead to longer fire seasons, greater fuel availability, increased fire intensities and increased resource requirements and more difficult fire suppression,'' he said.

Mr Hands said that even after a controlled burn landowners needed to revisit an old fire site, especially if they had been burning large piles of heavy fuel.

‘‘The concern is that when strong winds developed they could rekindle the old fire and spread hot embers to neighbouring fuels.''

He said it was a good idea to contact neighbours and advise an intention to burn ‘‘especially if near their boundary''.