Fireworks and open-air fires are banned, all previously granted fire permits are suspended and anyone using machinery must avoid activities which generate sparks. That includes using grinders, ride-on lawnmowers, and other tools or implements with blades that can strike against stones and cause a spark.
A cooking fire accident in January 2022 set the Glendhu Bluffs Department of Conservation reserve on fire, threatening nearby homes and properties, the Glendhu Bike Park, and access to the Mt Aspiring National Park.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Otago district manager Phil Marsh said westerly winds and a lack of widespread rain had dried out vegetation and caused a sharp increase in the fire risk.
The Central, Naseby, Upper Waitaki, Lakes, and
Lake Ōhau zones have also moved to a prohibited fire season.
