January 17, 2009

A hotter than normal summer has sent the mercury rising and those who light illegal fires in Northland could find themselves paying hefty fines and clean-up costs.
With temperatures hitting 28C, people have been warned to play by the rules or pay tens of thousands of dollars in firefighting expenses as fire bans and restrictions are likely to be put in place.
While most Northland areas have had little rain since the start of the week, Kerikeri experienced severe thunderstorms and a heavy downpour on Wednesday evening.
MetService weather forecaster Bob McDavitt said 52.6mm of rain fell in two hours from 6pm.
He said passing cold air, a result of the front crossing North Island, triggered the downpour in Kerikeri.
Lance Johnston, principal rural fire officer for the Far North, said even though heavy rain fell in isolated areas, it was dry in most places. He said a fire restriction would be in force for all land north of Awanui, including the Karikari peninsula, as of midnight today.
A restricted fire season for the entire Far North district until the end of May is likely to be imposed next weekend.
'People need to be careful,' Mr Johnson said.
'It's quite costly to put these fires out and you're looking at $2500 an hour once a helicopter is engaged.'
The last major fire was on the Karikari Peninsula about 3pm on Wednesday, which burnt about 500sq m of Department of Conservation land.
It damaged regenerating native bush at Knuckle Point Scenic Reserve. Principal rural fire officer Kevin Ihaka said people in Whangarei needed to call the district council and check rules regarding lighting fires in different places.
'The potential is certainly there now, particularly on windy days which push the risk up.'
He said heat sources from vehicles, barbecues, chainsaws, heavy machinery working in forests, roadside mowers and farmers' tractors could start a fire.
Whangarei received 1.2mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday, Paihia/Russell 2mm, and Kaitaia had none during that period.