Wednesday, 04 May 2022 14:55

Fires causing problems for Waikato firefighters

Written by  Staff Reporters
Waikato property owners are being urged to avoid lighting fires if there is a chance they will get out of control. Waikato property owners are being urged to avoid lighting fires if there is a chance they will get out of control.

Fire and Emergency are encouraging Waikato property owners not to light fires if there is a chance they will get out of control.

Waikato District Manager, Daryl Trim says Waikato firefighters have recently been called out to vegetation fires due to fires being lit in the wrong conditions.

“If it’s too risky to light your land clearing fires, don’t do it,” says Trim.

Trim is also reminding residents there are currently fire restrictions around the Kawhia and Waipa peatlands.

“We aren’t considering further fire restrictions at this time of year as we recognise the use of controlled fires as a land management tool,” he says.

“However, the fire danger won’t ease until there is some significant rainfall, so people should continue to be vigilant and take care with any outdoor fires.

"Most landowners do take safety precautions, but we want to minimise the risk in the ‘risky areas’ until we have had reasonable rainfall," he says.

"Fires in a green paddock, well away from scrub, kikuyu grass and peat are okay, providing fire precautions are being followed.

Supervise the fire until it is completely out and make sure it is well clear from other combustible materials."

For more information on how to be fire safe or to apply for a permit, go to www.checkitsalright.nz.

More like this

Featured

The PostMate Wins Fieldays 2026 People's Choice Award

A farm shed solution to a long-standing safety problem has captured the public’s vote in the Fieldays Innovation Awards with AWS, with Waikato dairy farmer Warren Storey’s invention The PostMate, winning the 2026 Fieldays Innovation Awards People’s Choice Award, supported by KingSt. Advertising.

Editorial: Outstanding Performance

OPINION: The latest update from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on the state of NZ's primary sector paints a positive picturee about its performance over the past 12 months.

National

Machinery & Products

Look Beyond Features

Technology adoption on New Zealand dairy farms has accelerated rapidly over the past decade.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Great Idea!

OPINION: Central Hawke's Bay farmer Mark Warren recently told the Hawke's Bay Times it's time for a conversation about allowing…

No Choice

OPINION: A nation that relies as heavily as NZ does on functional global shipping lanes will have to do its…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter