The New Zealand Fire Service is comparing tussocks to petrol to help get the message across about the fire risk over summer.
Fire risk management officer for Central and North Otago Paul Glanville told the Otago Daily Times this week the fire service recommended homeowners keep flammable vegetation at least 10m from their homes.
While he could understand the aesthetics of those who chose to live close to vegetation, such as occurred on the kanuka-clad slopes of Little Mt Iron, in Wanaka, Mr Glanville said the risk needed to be taken into account.
Mr Glanville said he had received a report of the ground under some kanuka being planted out with tussocks.
''We've got a problem there with dry kanuka anyway.
''But then you put a tussock plant, which is equivalent to a couple of litres of petrol, underneath a whole lot of kanuka or manuka, then the risk gets increased exponentially.''
The fire risk issue was raised by Wanaka Community Board member Mike O'Connor at the board's meeting this week.
He considered houses should have a ''corridor'' around them that was free of vegetation.
