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Fire Ban: No Hangi without Permission

31/1/2013

Rotorua people won't be able to put down a hangi unless fire officers deem it safe after extremely dry conditions have forced the first total fire ban in the city in more than a decade.

It won't just be those wanting to put down hangi who are affected - using pizza ovens, outdoor braziers and even fish smokers will require the Rotorua District Council's go-ahead after a complete fire ban was put in place to help ease the extreme fire risk.

Acting principal rural fire officer for the Rotorua district, Richard Horn, said putting the ban in place wasn't the sort of thing they did "willy nilly" and the last total fire ban was 10 or 11 years ago.

However, the tinder dry conditions left the council with no choice and they had joined with Pumicelands and the Department of Conservation (DoC) rural fire authorities to initiate the total fire ban which applies to all urban and rural areas of the district as well as DoC land.

Existing fire permits have been cancelled and no new permits or extensions are being issued during the period of the ban. Anyone wanting to put down a hangi or use a pizza oven or outdoor brazier will need to apply for an exemption from the council.

Exceptions that would be considered are for genuine health reasons such as disposal of dead stock or cultural reasons such as tangi, but residents still need to apply.

There is no cost to apply for an exemption and it would involve inspectors visiting the site to check the activity was safe. Applications would be considered on a case by case basis.

Mr Horn said most people would understand the need for the ban and there had been a couple of close calls over the past week including a fire at Waikite Valley and one at Ngapuna which had the potential to be quite dangerous.

He said the dry conditions combined with high wind could increase risk even further.

Mr Horn said anyone wanting to lay a hangi needed to contact the council as soon as possible, especially with Waitangi Day coming up.

It was possible people would be given the go-ahead to lay hangi in other situations and they were advised to contact the council.

"We're there to help people out."

He said tourism operations weren't likely to be affected as most used gas. Any doing traditional hangi with wood should contact the council to have it approved.

Mr Horn said he had been working with Raggamuffin organisers but said they would not be affected.

He said the fire ban applied to anything that used wood or charcoal for burning.

He said fish smokers were "probably okay" if they were fully enclosed but people needed to contact the council before using them to check.

The decision has sparked plenty of debate on The Daily Post Facebook page - with more than 40 comments and 15 likes by late yesterday afternoon.

One reader said "Yep fair enough! I would rather that than be the cause of a huge fire, loss of lives and property!" and "i TOTALLY AGREE with the fire ban, it only takes 1 little ember to fly in the air and burn a house down, fire permits are a good idea, at least if u were to get 1 u will take full responsibility if anything were to happen. j.s"

Others thought it was a step too far.

"Hahaha since when have Maori ever listened to rules like that lol I would lay a hangi just because of that law lol" said one reader.

Another said "come on. we aint that stupid to be causing huge as fire, since when has there bn reports of making hangis has caused a big massive fire?"

Meanwhile, the Taupo District Council has temporarily stopped issuing fire permits with principal rural fire officer Phil Parker saying the risk of fire was just too high.

Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty provincial president John Scrimgeour said milk production was sliding, with pastures looking really bare for a lot of farmers and sheep farmers were selling their store lambs rather than fattening them up, meaning their incomes would also take a big hit.

Rural fire officer John Reihana inspects the dry conditions that have led to a total fire ban in Rotorua.

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Fire Ban for Rotorua

29/1/2013

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A total fire ban in now in place for Rotorua district due to the fire risk being extreme.

The fire ban includes Department of Conservation land.

A Rotorua District Council statement said no outdoor fires could be lit in either rural or urban areas.

Gas barbecues can be used but caution is advised.

All existing permits are now invalid and no new permits or extensions will be granted during this time.

For more information contact Rotorua District Council (07) 348 4199.

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Firefighters Assist on Gt Barrier

29/1/2013

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Five Rotorua firefighters have been sent to Great Barrier Island to help deal with a blaze which has whipped through more than 100ha of bush.

Rotorua District deputy chief principal rural fire officer Richard Horn told The Daily Post five firefighters from Rotorua had flown to the island in the outer Hauraki Gulf yesterday to help tackle the blaze.

Lake Okareka rural principal chief fire officer Philip Muldoon and four forestry firefighters from Timberlands were among 42 firefighting personnel tackling the blaze including Department of Conservation staff, and fire crews from Auckland and Nelson, Mr Horn said.

While the blaze was now under control, the Rotorua firefighters were still needed on Great Barrier Island at least until the middle of the week, Mr Horn said.

"They are still mopping up at the moment ... they are trying to widen the firebreaks in place at the moment. They might be back on Wednesday."

Telephone communications were limited where the group was based but Mr Horn said he had spoken with Mr Muldoon on Sunday night when he was told the crew had been treated well by the locals.

"There is no phone contact. He had to go to the other side of the island to call. They have been working 10 and 12-hour days. They are really being treated well though and have had plenty of crayfish."

Meanwhile, fire crews will spend all week monitoring the island to prevent any flare-ups of the fire .

The fire was now "very well contained" but fire crews were not letting the pressure off just yet, principal rural fire officer Bryan Cartelle said.

Staff are patrolling and dampening any hot spots which showed up on a thermal imaging camera. The number of people on the ground would be reduced over the next couple of days.

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Rotorua Crews called in to Fight Blaze

24/1/2013

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Firefighters have been recruited from Rotorua and Nelson to relieve exhausted crews battling a large blaze on Great Barrier Island.

At least 40 properties have been evacuated as a result of the fire, which continues to burn this morning.

National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield said five firefighters from Rotorua and another five from Nelson had arrived on the island to help local crews and those from Auckland.

"The fire is contained but not out and there's still a lot of work to be done," he said.

Firefighters were today attempting to create a fire break to stop the blaze spreading further.

Mr Dudfield said it was a similar situation with a large fire on the Pouto Peninsula in Northland, which covered about 180ha.

Firefighters had contained the blaze but were attempting to completely extinguish it yesterday.

There were four large scrub fires in different parts of New Zealand on Wednesday.

"Soil moisture levels are below normal so when you do get a fire there's a lot of work to be done to saturate the fuel and soil with water," Mr Dudfield said.

"The last three summers have been quite quiet for us and this is going back to what we used to get about five years ago."

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Newsmaker: Richard Horn

20/1/2013

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This week's Newsmaker is Rotorua District Council deputy principal rural fire officer Richard Horn.

Tell us about yourself.

I will have been married to Maree Hopkins-Horn for 17 years this March, with two lovely daughters Mikaela, 15 and Jade, 9 and nephew Anton, 13, who is Whangai.

Majority of our interests are whanau related and involve as much quality time together as possible as work schedules can be quite hectic at times. We have set our home up to be able to accommodate and enjoy the company of extended whanau and friends, young and old.

Tell us about your role as the Rotorua District Council's deputy principal rural fire officer.

I'm responsible for co-coordinating unit standard training with our three volunteer fire forces - Lake Rotoiti, Lake Okareka and Lake Tarawera - and our 30 rural firefighters at Castlecorp.

I issue fire permits throughout the fire season and I'm first response for fires in Rotorua District Council areas. This involves taking charge and co-ordinating fire suppression of vegetation fires under our jurisdiction. This can be at any time of the day or night and more often than not is outside normal working hours.

What other positions have you held?

I have been an employee of the council for 26 years this February. I started straight from school as a horticultural apprentice and from there have taken opportunities to further my knowledge and skills within the horticultural area, and for the last 16 years rural fire sectors.

What attracted you to firefighting?

I am fortunate to be a part of a great team and as a consequence love my work. I have the opportunity on a daily basis to meet and work with a wide range of people within our community, and the fire permit inspection process means I get to spend time in some lovely parts of our district.

What is the best aspect of your job?

If it were not for my dedicated public gardens team and support from my Castlecorp general manager Mike Davies I would not be able to wear the other hats that I have for the council.

I'm public gardens foreperson with 17 full-time staff and have a major events operational role for Castlecorp, currently working on Raggamuffin festival, Te Matatini national kapa haka champs and the Lakeside concert.

What do you find most challenging about your role?

As well as being away from family this work is very arduous with long days in a very testing environment. A certain
level of fitness and experience is a requirement but there is also the mental aspect and the ability to keep a clear
head in situations that many would find difficult.

Have you been overseas to fight fires?

I am part of a group of 30 New Zealand Response Team rural firefighters who are able to respond at short notice to vegetation fires both nationally and internationally, and have been deployed elsewhere in New Zealand, as have others from our council. Right now our group of 10 most experienced firefighters has been made available if required for deployment to help our neighbours in Australia.

During February 2010 we deployed crews to the far north to help with a large fire in Kaimaumau and then again in December of that year we sent a crew to the lower South Island to help with a large fire which meant the team spending Christmas there.

What goes through your mind when you see what's happening over in Australia with all the bush fires?

It has been hard watching the destruction in Australia especially in recent weeks. Some of the fires in Australia can have a fire front 50 or more kilometres long, like from Rotorua to half way to Hamilton, with the wind sending embers many kilometres from the fire front. Previous Canterbury events demonstrated the destruction and speed these fires can travel and it's hard to comprehend it unless you've experienced it first-hand.

Tell us three things about yourself that most people wouldn't know.

I'm taller than I look.

I met Maree while we were doing our horticultural apprenticeships with the council and it was love at first sight . . . for her.

In 2013 I will give some time to the youth of Rotorua and will be helping with a couple of youth programmes.

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Rotorua Residents Get Fire Warning

16/1/2013

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The Rotorua District Council is warning people against lighting fires in the district despite the fire risk being at a moderate level.

Rotorua District Council deputy principal rural fire officer Richard Horn said there was a relatively low fire risk at the moment despite the dry conditions across the district.

"The main reason is because we don't have high winds."

He said readings for the fire risk were taken daily and could change quickly during summer, especially when the winds picked up.

Mr Horn said the fire risk was expected to reach a very high or extreme level during parts of February and March.

He said the risk was measured by moisture in the ground, moisture in plants and trees and wind levels.

During the restricted fire season, which ends on April 30, residents must hold a permit to light a fire in a rural area.

Permits are free and can be ordered from the Rotorua District Council.

Mr Horn said you could still burn in urban areas without a permit but it was best to avoid it if possible.

"Rotorua can get quite windy, usually from about 2pm onwards. So it is better to burn in the morning if at all."

He said people should be aware of the conditions and make sure they keep a hose or bucket of water nearby when burning.

Rotorua Fire Service senior station officer Cameron McEwen said the public had been good when burning rubbish around Rotorua.

"We haven't had many problems.

"People are quite well schooled in the basics of having a small rubbish fire," Mr McEwen said. "It is so prominent in the news so people are generally taking care, I think."

To get a free permit or to ask suggestions about lighting a fire call the Rotorua District Council on (07) 348 4199.

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Rotorua Bakes in 'Unsually High' Temperatures

9/1/2013

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Temperatures in Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty soared this week, with several centres reaching 30C or above.

According to Niwa, the hottest temperature in the country on Monday was 32.1C, which was recorded at Kawerau, followed by 32C at Whakatane.

Rotorua weather man Brian Holden said Rotorua had an un usually high temperature of 30.8C. He said although it was a high temperature for the city, it wasn't a record.

Mr Holden said Rotorua's highest maximum temperature on record was 35.2C which was "some time way back in the early 1900s''.

The city also managed to reach 31.5C in January 2004 and January 1983.

Niwa climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said there had been only 21 days warmer than Monday's maximum, since records began 100 years ago.

"It's a notably warm day,'' she said.

It was the hottest day this summer, far surpassing the 27.7C recorded on December 19.

"That's a big jump. The Bay of Plenty often gets 28C but anything over 30C is unusually warm ... it's not surprising people are running for the beach.''

But the scorching conditions will make way for heavy rain and gales this week, as a west to southwest flow spreads across the country, said MetService.

MetService forecaster Philippa Murdoch said: "Basically the warm temperatures over much of the country over the last couple of days have been due to a very warm air mass spreading over the country from Australia.

"Now it's starting to move away and there is more of a south westerly flow over the country bringing in a bit of slightly cooler air.'' .

The front is expected to bring rain, stronger winds and gales to central parts of the country and exposed parts of Northland and Auckland before moving to the South Island.

Meanwhile, things were a little different in Taupo.

Windy and dry conditions made for a difficult day for holidaymakers and boaties yesterday and Monday with strong winds battering the district and the Taupo District Council asking people to conserve water and not light fires.

The warning came after a blaze in a rural area near Kinloch on Monday night burned 5ha of bush and scrub. It took 35 firefighters battling the strong winds and dry conditions to bring it under control.

The Taupo District Council asked people not to light any fires anywhere yesterday as winds continued to blow strongly.

The council also asked residents and visitors in Taupo to try and save water as the strong winds were impacting on the area's water supply.

The wind had churned up Lake Taupo, causing pumice and debris to block the main water intake on Lake Terrace.

Staff worked through the night last Monday to remove the debris, but the water flow was still reduced and would cause problems for firefighting, if a blaze occurred.

Out on the lake, southwesterly winds gusting up to 40 knots whipped up 2m swells on Monday but did not appear to cause many problems for boaties.

Harbourmaster Philip King said although the high winds had been forecast they came in very suddenly.

To the relief of those holidaying in tents, the wind began to abate from midday yesterday.

A staff member at Lake Taupo Top 10 Holiday Resort said although a couple of campers had asked to move to more sheltered sites, the campground's fences helped protect it and no tents had been blown away.

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