Wet weather spells end of fire ban

Following steady rainfall from Friday to Monday, the fire risk in all parts of Dunedin has reduced considerably and the fire ban that was in place in the Strath Taieri and south coast areas will be lifted from midnight Tuesday 24 February 2009.

"We thought we might go directly from high fire danger to flooding," said Civil Defence & Rural Fires Manager, Neil Brown "but fortunately the rain was steady and consistent, allowing good penetration of the dry ground, rather than a fast run-off into streams and rivers."

The total rainfall in the Strath Taieri area was around 61mm, the south coast received around 70mm and the north coast 122mm.

The lifting of the fire ban means that all of Dunedin City reverts to a restricted fire season in rural areas, under which a fire permit is required for any fire in the open air. People who had fire permits that were suspended should check that they are still current and may then may use them again from Wednesday onwards.

Expired permits can be renewed in the normal way or a new permit applied for by ringing the Dunedin City Council on 477 4000.

While the soil moisture levels are now well up and temperatures are lower, the situation could still change quite rapidly if warm, dry winds return. "The dead vegetation that created the high fire risk is still there and won't spring back to life after the rain" according to Principal Rural Fire Officer, Graeme Still "and even though people with current fire permits will be allowed to use them again, care should still be taken with any use of fire outdoors."

Contact details

Contact Graeme Still on 0274 370 903.

Last reviewed: 24 Feb 2009 12:58pm