A $500,000 firefighting bill following an incident in rural Southland in 2008 highlighted the importance of vigilance and being responsible when lighting fires, Southern Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer Mike Grant said.
Farmer Murray Gordon Maxwell was left with the bill after a fire broke out on his Waimahaka property on December 29, 2008.
Mr Grant said the fire was not contained until January 12 and it ultimately burned 588ha of land, including about 270ha of "significant conservation land" at the Awarua Wetlands, 38ha of pine plantation on Maxwell's property and 4ha of neighbouring farm land, as well as some structures and fences.
The Southland Times reported Maxwell (50) appeared in the Invercargill District Court on Monday and admitted failing to take all reasonable steps to extinguish smouldering vegetation, when he appeared before Judge Noel Walsh.
Two other charges - taking plants from a conservation area, and setting vegetation on fire in a restricted season - were withdrawn.
He was fined $1200.
Mr Grant said people needed to plan for, and be aware of, several factors when lighting a fire, such as the length of time a fire could burn and the weather forecast.
"We are coming up to the equinox, for example, which will mean the weather will tend to be windier, warmer and drier, which will increase the risk of a fire escaping.
