Residents looking to light open fires during the summer season are being reminded they must first obtain a fire permit from their local council.

Hot on the heels of daylight saving, the restricted fire season began yesterday, signalling the end of the open fire season.

Western Bay Moana Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer Barry Low.

Any rural fires lit in the next six months require permits and must abide by the summer rural fire rules, with fires only allowed to be lit during daylight and not in strong winds.

Last season, between October and April, Western Bay Moana Rural Fire Authorities attended about 230 fires – 50 outside the permitted guidelines.

'That is 50 too many that have taken matters into their own hands,” says Western Bay Moana Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer Barry Low.

A total fire ban was placed on the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City on February 22 this year, after the region was declared drought stricken – the first of its kind since the summer of 2010.

Barry says he is not sure what the exact forecast is for the coming summer months but admits the safety message is the same as any other fire ban season – with one added extra: do not burn tractor tyres or green vegetation.

'If you are going to light a fire make sure you can control it. If it gets away from you then call 111 as soon as possible so that we can stop it. And if you are going to light a fire and it gets away from you be prepared to pay the costs.

'There's no defence if the fire is in a rural area and you will be liable for the costs, nine times out of 10.”

Last season fire officials considered prosecution on four unpermitted fires along with a number of arson fires which are still unsolved. The rural fire season ends in April.

Permits and a list of guidelines are available from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.