All rural fire permits issued in the Western Bay of Plenty have been suspended from today as the district continues to dry out.

It means Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority will issue no further fire permits for the foreseeable future, and is likely to maintain this stance until after New Year's Eve at the earliest.

Moana Zone manager Alan Pearce. Photo: File.

Moana Zone Manager Alan Pearce says current fire permit holders must strictly adhere to the conditions of their permits and refrain from open air burning where possible.

No burning at night is permitted.

'Anyone intending to burn needs to carefully assess the conditions,” says Alan, 'taking into account the blustery winds being experienced across the district on most days.

'Ideally, burning should commence early in the morning, just after daylight and end by midday. If you have any doubt, don't light the fire.”

The current fire risk for the district is ‘extreme' and a total fire ban is looming, says Alan.

Permits for traditional cooking fires and braziers will still be issued for specific dates during the festive season, such as Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

These may be approved on an individual basis with further restrictive conditions. The suspension on all fire permits will remain in place until further notice.

Fire permits were reduced on Friday, but the district is continuing to dry out, says Alan.

'We are getting quite substantial wind periods through the 24-hour day and I am concerned with the progressive drying and the increasing risk of fire,” he explains.

'The wind is certainly a major factor. It is drying us out and also creating that risk of fire spotting or spreading.

'We reduced them on Friday, but we didn't get a break. It's just getting worse and worse by the hour.”

The next step is a total fire ban, unless there is some substantially wet weather in the very near future.

For advice and information on open air fires. phone Alan on: 07 571 8008.