Earlier this year, the Fire Service tried to get Dunedin man Tom Dodds to pay the $60,000 costs of fighting a fire on Waitaki Island, about 9km southeast of Kurow, that he had reported.
The Fire Service believed its investigation proved Mr Dodds started the 75ha fire on January 9.
It took crews days to put out, but the Fire Service thought it would be too costly to pursue Mr Dodds through the courts.
He believed the Fire Service report on the fire was full of ``lies'', and in August told the Otago Daily Times he would be taking further action.
But as time has moved on, so has Mr Dodds.
The painter has put a stop to any idea of taking legal action against the Fire Service.
``It's done and dusted.
``I don't really have time, to be honest,'' he said.
On March 22, Mr Dodds, who had been camping on the site with friends, was sent an invoice from the Otago Rural Fire Authority for $60,194.66 to cover the cost of fighting the fire.
Mr Dodds, who called 111 when the fire went out of control, has vigorously denied starting it.
Fire Service National Rural Fire Officer Kevin O'Connor said his organisation had not heard from Mr Dodds to confirm his decision.
``If Tom has said that, we're pleased he's reached that conclusion,'' he said.
``The Fire Service will move on and leave it where it is.''
Even though the matter caused Mr Dodds stress and cost him more than $2000 in time and legal fees, he said that if he saw another fire, he would still call the emergency services.
``You'd like to say no just to p... them off, but if you don't call them and someone gets hurt, you'd feel pretty bad. I don't think you'd ever turn a blind eye to it.''
