by Adam Burns for the Otago Daily Times
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging people across the Otago-Southland region to defer any burning and not to use fireworks, as a total fire ban is declared in Central Otago.
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Fenz yesterday asked residents to defer burning and using fireworks this weekend, and on Monday.
Very warm temperatures and low humidity would dry vegetation and other material, making it very easy to ignite.
A three-day total fire ban was declared for the Central Otago region starting today.
Fenz said in a statement yesterday, activities in the region that cause sparks, such as grinding, chainsawing and lawnmowing were also prohibited.
Extreme fire danger forecast across the region has prompted the restriction.
Otago principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said fires which were normally easy to control became very difficult during extreme fire dangers due to their volatile nature.
"If people have burnt in the last month we are asking them to check to make sure their fires are out as these conditions could fan a fire back into life and transport embers into other dry vegetation."
Fenz is also asking residents to extinguish any burning fires and not to light any fires during the weekend and Monday, including solid fuel barbecues, campfires, incinerators and hedge trimmings.
This story first appeared in the Otago Daily Times.