Fire and Emergency will impose a total fire ban right across Otago from midnight tonight, as warm weather continues to affect the lower South Island.
The ban will go into place midnight tonight. Photo: RNZ / Russell Palmer
A ban was put in place in Southland yesterday, as temperatures in Invercargill reached 32 degrees.
Fire and Emergency rural regional manager Mike Grant said the two regions had only had a few millimetres of rain over the past six weeks and the grass and vegetation was tinder dry.
The total fire ban means people are not allowed to light outdoor fires of any kind, Mr Grant said.
People needed to be extremely cautious when doing anything outside that could potentially start a fire - such as mowing lawns or starting machinery.