Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has introduced a restricted fire season for the Porirua and Kāpiti Coast areas as of 8 am today, citing increasingly dry conditions.
Under the restricted fire season, anyone wishing to light an outdoor fire must first apply for a fire permit at checkitsalright.nz.
Brett Lockyer, District Manager for Fire and Emergency, explained that while recent rain provided some relief, much of the vegetation in the region remains dangerously dry.
“Although there has been a bit of rain in the last couple of days, we still have a lot of very dry vegetation on the west side of the district, which could easily catch fire,” Lockyer said.
He urged residents to delay any planned burns and to check that previous fire sites are fully extinguished to reduce the risk of flare-ups.
To determine local fire restrictions, residents can visit the website and enter their address. Permits must be obtained for lighting outdoor fires and all specified conditions must be followed.
“This is a very risky time of year for wildfires, so we’re asking everyone to help us keep Wellington District’s people, property, and environment safe from fires this summer,” Lockyer said.
Fire and Emergency continues to monitor the conditions and will update restrictions as needed.