Facts about wildfires in Northland
Most wildfires in Northland are not accidents
Most wildfires in Northland are lit on purpose or caused through carelessness. In the very dry summer just gone (2009 - 2010), around half are suspected arsons or resulted from unpermitted fires. Many occurred during a total fire ban.
In the past four years, wildfires have swept through more than 500 hectares of Northland forest and bush. It has cost close to $3 million and hundreds of hours to fight those fires.
Wildfires have consequences - for you
A fire rages through Northland bush
Whether you meant to start it, or it "got away from you", there are consequences.
If you're found responsible for starting a wild fire, especially if you try to hide the fact or pretend you're not responsible - you pay for it. The cost comes out of your pocket, one way or another, no matter much it is. It could be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It's not just about the money. It's about knowing how much you have cost your family, friends and neighbours and being tagged with the damage forever.
When fireworks went wrong at Mangawhai Beach the family responsible had to pay, even though the fire was an accident.
In recent times at various sites around Northland, people have been found in connection with wildfires. When they were interviewed, they admitted to lighting up toilet paper, holding an illegal burn-off and an illegal campfire at costs ranging from $5000 to $200,000.
May be you started the fire because you were angry, or bored, or thought it would be cool to cause trouble - or your mates wanted you to. May be you didn't mean to, but you were careless or just didn't think about it.
Rural fire organizations in Northland are getting a good handle on how wildfires start and they're learning a lot more about the people who light them. It's against the law to start a wildfire - every one of them is investigated.
It's not easy to look cool in a court room when everyone's staring at you - and you know the fire is your fault. Rural fire organisations don't enjoy it either. They would much rather not be in the court or interview room with you. So stay out of it and stay away from the things and people that start wildfires. Protect yourself, your family, your friends, your property.
It's not worth the risk. Don't be a loser.
Places where fire is a persistent problem
Some places in Northland suffer repeat wildfires. Kaimaumau, on the Far North's Karikari Peninsula, is one of these.
A major fire which burned in the Kaimaumau wetland throughout February 2010 was the 21st to have occurred there since 1988. This fire burned 125 ha of vegetation, mostly on private land. It cost $1.2 million to extinguish.
The total amount of land burned through the Kaimaumau fires is 4114 ha, at a cost of more than $2.5 million.
None of these fires was an accident. The Department of Conservation, other rural fire managers throughout Northland and the police are working together with communities to try to prevent more such fires.
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