Fire permits remain suspended in the Western Bay despite recent rain over the New Year period.

Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority is retaining its cautious approach to the current fire risk conditions and will review the situation next week, says Rural Fire Zone manager Alan Pearce.

Pumicelands rural fire zone manager Alan Pearce.

The rain over the New Year alleviated the extreme fire risk, but it was not enough to lower the risk to manageable levels, says Alan.

'The fire danger raced to the very high range for scrubland and shelterbelts and remains at that level today.”

Eighteen rural fires were attended in December, including unpermitted fires, out of control vegetation and shelterbelt fires, and four structural fires which resulted in the loss of buildings, farm machinery, hay, and more.

'Most of these fires occurred as the consequence of lighting up in unsuitable conditions or careless use of fireworks and machinery,” says Alan. 'These fires were, in the main, preventable.”

A New Year reveller carelessly discharging fireworks at Pukehina caused a large scrub fire.

'The fire threatened a number of houses before it was controlled by the local brigade and rural fire resources.

'Two more fires reported to the authority this month resulted from electrical faults, including one incident where downed power lines caused a scrub fire on New Year's Day.”

The high fire danger is expected to continue until Saturday when more rain is predicted.

'We are reviewing the weather daily and hopefully the predicted rainfall will be sufficient to recommence the issue of fire permits next week,” says Alan.

Fire permits were suspended across the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City sub-region before Christmas after the fire risk reached extreme levels.

For information on fire permits please contact Western Bay of Plenty District Council on 07 571 8008.