Several significant downpours in recent weeks have done little to diminish the fire risk in Central Otago.
Central Otago principal rural fire officer Owen Burgess said a restricted fire season was likely within a week.
"In spite of the rain we've had it's still reasonably dry out there.
If we get some hot and windy days it won't take long to dry off."
His comments came in the wake of two grass fires in the district within days. On Thursday strong northwest winds fanned a grass fire covering 2500sq m near Clyde and the following afternoon aerial and ground crews fought a tussock fire in gale-force winds at Danseys Pass. That fire spread rapidly to cover between 1sq km and 2sq km.
"You'd think it's green for this time of year, but it still burns, so we shouldn't get complacent," Mr Burgess said.
A restricted fire season came into force in mid-November last year, so it was not unusually early, he said. During the height of summer, there is usually a total ban on fires in Central Otago.
A restricted fire season means permits are required from a to light any fire outside.
