A Restricted Fire Season is in place across the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland mainland until further notice, Fire and Emergency New Zealand has confirmed.
All the Hauraki Gulf islands remain in a prohibited fire season.
A restricted fire season means no open-air fires can be legally lit unless a fire permit has been applied for and approved.
Fire and Emergency NZ’s Te Hiku Region Manager, Ron Devlin says for the greater Auckland area, weather forecasts show there is very little to no rain in the next seven days with a long-range forecast of warmer temperatures.
“It is also forecast that from February to March, the fire season will have forty per cent less rain than normal with a greater wind speed which means the fire danger will be slightly above normal,” he said.
“As we have seen with recent fires, it takes a large number of our fire brigades, many of whom are volunteer, with supporting resources and aircraft to contain and control wildfires.”
Information about what you can and can’t do during a restricted fire season, as well as fire safety tips, can be found at checkitsalright.nz or at fireandemergency.nz.
The restricted fire season was announced by Fire and Emergency New Zealand on 13 February and came into place at 7am today.
