In order to prevent rural fires, tinder-dry conditions call for common sense and care by the public when handling barbecues and fireworks, the Department of Conservation (Doc) Wakatipu says.
Doc biodiversity threats programme manager Mark Mawhinney said last week the Queenstown area "had a couple of wet summers and a lot of vegetation growth and a reasonably damp spring, so there's a lot of fuel out there".
"More so than ever, we have risk of fire. You don't need much of an ignition and wind gusts can take the danger level from 'high' through summer to 'very high' or 'extreme'," he said.
Permits were required for all fires except barbecues.
Mr Mawhinney said the department recommended barbecues fired by gas.
A restricted fire season was also now in force over Central Otago.
A permit to burn in the open air must be obtained from the district council before a fire is lit.
