Latest News Wairarapa Rural Fire District From Tuesday 27th January 2009 a Restricted Fire Season is declared for the whole of the Wairarapa Rural Fire District, with a total fire ban (Prohibited Fire Season) in force around the South Coast from the Pahaoa River to Ocean Beach.  The Wairarapa Rural Fire District covers all the rural land within the three District Councils, being Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa. No fires in the open are allowed at all within 1 kilometre of the coast from Windy Point at Ocean Beach to the Pahaoa River.  This includes wood barbeques, braziers, campfires and bonfires.  For all other parts of the region a permit is required for all fires in the open air, but is not required for gas fired barbeques.  An extended period of strong winds, lower rainfall and high temperatures has raised the fire danger codes and indices to levels where it is necessary to impose the restricted fire season.  Phill Wishnowsky, Principal Rural Fire Officer for the Wairarapa RFD, said “up until now we have had a few welcome periods of rain, but the summer weather is now drying the countryside out.  Current medium term forecasts indicate the rest of the summer should be warm, dry and windy – a combination that is not such good news for rural fire personnel.  Everyone is urged to take a few simple precautions to reduce the risk and threat of fire.  Actions such as keeping roadside grass verges short, keeping long grass and dry vegetation away from buildings, keeping trees and other vegetation away from power lines, keeping driveways and other access open and clear for fire engine access, making sure rural property is clearly numbered and identified.”  Fire permits are available during normal work hours from the South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton District Council Offices for fires within each of the territorial authority boundaries.  For permits on Department of Conservation land, contact the department’s office in Masterton  The restricted fire season is declared under Section 22 of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977. These restrictions will continue in force until further notice.  For further information, please contact Phill Wishnowsky, Principal Rural Fire Officer, Wairarapa Rural Fire District, phone 06.377.2912 or 027.289.9609. 23 January 2009