The Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Department of Conservation have imposed a total fire ban for the Queenstown Lakes district, with severe fire risk conditions forecast for this weekend.
Queenstown Lakes District Council principal rural fire officer Gordon Bailey said a fire ban would apply to all areas of the district, including all settlements and townships and all Doc land and fire safety margins, until further notice.
"With the high temperatures and winds we have been experiencing conditions are now extremely dry. People need to take extreme precautions, particularly with cigarette butts, when using chainsaws and gas barbecues in open areas," he said.
Since Monday, the only fires permitted were electric or gas barbecues in properly constructed containers and fires in approved, purpose-built, permanent surrounds, he said.
All issued fire permits were withdrawn as of today.
He said it was also timely to remind visitors to Pig and Pigeon Islands on Lake Wakatipu and Ruby Island in Lake Wanaka that a total fire ban applied year round to those recreation areas.
