Central Otago residents should not be complacent about the fire risk despite recent rain, fire authorities warn.
A rubbish fire lit on a rural property at Ettrick yesterday prompted a reminder there is a total fire ban across Otago.
Teviot Valley Rural Fire party controller Wes Reichel said the fire was extinguished by firefighters, but no open fires should be lit, as a fire ban remained in force.
''There were some tree stumps in the hole among the rubbish too, so they could smoulder away and burst back into flames on some hot, windy day,'' Mr Reichel said.
''Just because there's been some rain, doesn't mean the fire risk has gone.''
