Fire restrictions will be in force in parts of Canterbury from midnight tonight.
A tyre fire in Canterbury in the summer of 2018. Photo: Hurunui District Council
Fire and Emergency say the restricted fire season will be in Christchurch, Hurunui, Selwyn and the Waimakariri District.
This means anyone wanting to light a fire outside will need to obtain a permit.
North Canterbury principal rural fire officer Bruce Janes, said the number of fire related calls had tripled over the past two weeks.
He said with increasing temperatures and hot westerly winds, fire indexes are at very high, just one level below extreme.