Hawke’s Bay Fire and Emergency is urging people to think about fire safety during the warmer months, following eighteen vegetation-related fires across the region last month.

Fire and Emergency’s Hawkes’ Bay Community Risk Manager, Nigel Hall, says everyone should now be checking if it is safe to light an outdoor fire or carry out spark creating activities like mowing lawns.

People should first check www.checkitsalright.nz to determine if you should or shouldn’t light an outdoor fire and then check the weather conditions including the four-day wind forecast by heading to www.fireweather.niwa.nz and clicking on your area in the map. 

"If you decide it is safe to go ahead and light an outdoor fire, don’t leave it unsupervised, " Nigel Hall says. The fires last month, were largely unsupervised. 

"Don’t leave your fire to burn unsupervised. Keep water nearby in case it gets out of control and make sure it is fully extinguished. Dig over the remains and pour water over them until you are sure it is out."

Nigel Hall says the risk is always extreme when you're not ready. This is particularly important for properties next to a forest, scrubland or in a rural setting. 

"If a fire gets out of control in these areas the chance of it spreading quickly is much greater because of the increased quantities of drier vegetation," he says.

"People living or working in these high-risk areas have a responsibility to act safely around fire and to take steps to make their properties firesafe.

"They should be keeping the grass around their houses short and gutters and areas around decks clear of dead leaves and debris."

For advice about fire placements and burn plans, go to Fire for land management. 

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