The danger of fire throughout the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City has reached 'extreme” levels, prompting a suspension of all new fire permits from today.

The step is one away from a total fire ban which Western Bay Moana Rural Authority principal rural fire officer Alan Pearce says he's not ruling out if dry conditions continue.

The current fire danger level in the Western Bay of Plenty is ‘extreme'.

Drying vegetation across the district, coupled with hot summer winds, means the fire danger risk is now too high to warrant the issuing further permits.

'I have completed an assessment of the fire conditions and looming weather, and in speaking with the New Zealand Fire Service feel this is the next appropriate step,” says Alan.

Anyone with a current approved fire permit can still burn until the expiry date of their permit, but is urged to check the conditions of their permit thoroughly.

'Don't light fires on slopes, or near vegetation such as shelterbelt hedges, and avoid lighting a fire in windy conditions,” he adds.

'Burning should be conducted in the calm, early morning hours and completed as soon as possible.

'Ensure that the fire-ground is cleared of all rank and dry vegetation before starting a fire.

'We hope to start approving new fire permits as soon as the fire danger is lower, which means as soon as there has been significant rain.”

Tauranga assistant area manager Graeme Easton says while the fire danger is extreme in the Western Bay of Plenty, things are not as bad in the wider Bay of Plenty.

He says things could change in the next few days.

'The fire danger levels change is in the Bay of Plenty, which encompasses Opotiki through to Waihi. Inland in Kawerau the fire danger is higher than it is in coastal areas. This is likely to come up quickly,” says Graeme.

'There are three levels: scrub lands are extreme, grass lands are high and other areas are sitting at moderate to medium.”

To keep updated on fire permit conditions and for more information visit: www.westernbay.govt.nz