February 24, 2009

Four days of steady rain have prompted the Dunedin City Council to lift the city's total fire ban but the lighting of fires remains prohibited in the Central Otago district.
DCC principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said significant rainfall meant a change to a restricted fire season, with fires allowed if people had permits.
About 61mm of rain has fallen on the Strath Taieri since Friday, 70mm on the coast south of Dunedin and 122mm on the north coast.
The Department of Conservation is also lifting the total fire ban on land it administers in coastal Otago, as of tomorrow night.
The lighting of fires in the open had been prohibited from February 5 after long spells of dry, windy weather but firefighters were comfortable the conditions were now safe to allow fires in the open.
However, anyone wanting to light a fire in the open had to get a permit. Those holding fire permits that had been cancelled could now check whether they were still current and able to be used, Mr Still said.
While the rain had brought relief, the situation could quickly change if warm, dry winds returned, Mr Still said.
Central Otago principal rural fire officer Owen Burgess said the total district fire ban had not been lifted yet but the situation was being monitored.
The prohibited fire season meant no fires could be lit in the Central Otago district, including urban and rural areas _ including Naseby _ as well as all Department of Conservation areas.
Only gas barbecues in approved containers were permitted.
All other areas in the southern fire district have restricted fire seasons in force.