The use of fire in rural areas is a sensitive issue, due to vast areas, sometimes too dry, of exposed vegetation as well difficult access for emergency services.

Fires in rural areas need careful handling.

There are compulsory conditions regarding fires in rural areas under the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and the Forest and Rural Fires Regulations 2005. You should always check with your council before lighting any kind of fires, but some sensible steps can go a long way in playing it safe.

Do not light a fire in a strong wind, or in conditions likely to spread the fire or to present fire hazard (including an adverse long-range weather forecast). Check the weather forecast before indulging in any ‘open-air’ fire activity. Also, it’s important to notify neighbours before lighting a controlled burn.

If you’re camping or cooking, or needing comfort or warmth, keep your fire at least 3 metres clear of any tree, log, stump or dry vegetation. Remove all combustible material within 3 metres of the fire site.

It is an offence to light an open air fire without the appropriate permit. Or to break permit conditions, or to let a fire spread to and injure a State area, forest, or especially protected property, or to leave it unprotected against such a spread.

Permits are suspended by fire hazard emergency warnings or orders prohibiting all open air fires. Check by radio, or ring the Fire Authority.

Any written permit must be produced on demand by a member of Police or a Fire Office. But remember that a permit is not a legal defence against claims for damage caused by fire.

Except where officially signposted otherwise, permits are needed at all times for open air fires in National or Conservation Parks, in specially protected sites, and in (including their fire safety margins of usually 1 kilometre) other State areas or forest areas.

Obtain further permits from soil conservation (e.g. Regional Council), Crown, or other statutory fire authorities whose consent is required, if this is not a joint permit signed on their behalf.

If a fire gets out of hand, try to extinguish it. Urgently dial 111 and notify the Fire Authority. Patrol the fire until completely out or cannot spread.