Permits required to light fires
Contact:
Connie Norgate
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Whanganui Area Office
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Phone:
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+64 6 349 2100
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Fax:
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+64 6 348 8095
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Email:
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WhanganuiArea@doc.govt.nz
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Address:
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34-36 Taupo Quay
Whanganui 4500
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Postal Address:
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Private Bag 3016
Whanganui 4540
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See also:
Rural fire control
Date: 28 March 2008
There has been an increase in unpermitted burns throughout the Wanganui area recently, especially on the Whanganui River Road. The area is still extremely dry, what little rain there has been over the summer season has not been enough to change the conditions.
There is a restricted fire season in force and a permit is required to light fires. These can be obtained from the Wanganui District Council Rural Fire Authority or if a burn off is within 1 kilometre of conservation land a permit will be required from the Department of Conservation.
The Rural Fire Authority and DOC are both very concerned that one of these burns will get out of control considering the extremely dry conditions at present. Although rural burn offs generally happen around this time of the year it is important that landowners take into consideration the fact that it has been a particularly dry summer.
The Department of Conservation has lost a lot of native bush to fires in the Wanganui Conservancy this summer most of the damage being irreparable. The cost of the fires has been substantial as there are huge costs associated with bringing in helicopters and equipment. Fires so far this summer in the Wanganui Conservancy have cost in excess of $1.5 million. Rural fire and DOC would be looking at prosecuting out of control burns in the future to recover the costs involved with the suppression of the fire.