Northland to move to restricted fire season, blazes banned in Far North

Tuesday, 11 January 2022

Fire and Emergency NZ incident controller Nigel Dravitzki explains why the Waiharara fire is so hard to contain. (Video first published January 7.)

Northland is moving to a restricted fire season from Wednesday, while fires will be completely banned in the Far North.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the change would take effect from 8am on January 12.

A restricted fire season means people will need a permit to light an open-air fire, which can be applied for on www.checkitsalright.nz.

The area north of Awanui to Cape Rēinga and the Karikari Peninsula, which is usually in a year-round restricted fire season, will move to a prohibited fire season.

Helicopter footage from January 6 shows the extent of the Waiharara fire, which covers 2400ha.

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This means no open-air fires can be lit and no permits to light fires will be issued.

The change comes as firefighters continue to battle a scrub fire in Waiharara in the Far North.

The blaze, which started on December 18, is still yet to be contained.

The 2400 hectare fire has affected wetlands, forced the evacuation of residents in Kaimaumau, and damaged sacred cultural sites.

Fire and Emergency district manager Wipari Henwood said Northland’s dry and windy forecast this summer had increased the fire risk.

“We know that there is a higher risk for large, uncontrolled fires to be established in Northland in these conditions.

“If it’s hot and windy, please don’t light a fire.”