Otorohanga District is located some 50 kilometres south of Hamilton. The area administered by the Council covers 1,976 sq km and extends from the Kawhia and Aotea Harbours on the west coast for a distance of 90 km to the Waikato River, with its eastern extremity near Mangakino. Included within the District are the urban communities of Otorohanga and Kawhia.

The Otorohanga District Council is the Rural Fire Authority responsible for fire protection and suppression for the District, with the exception of the following areas:

        Urban fire districts (Otorohanga and Kawhia) under the control of the New Zealand Fire Service.

        State areas (Crown land, Scenic Reserves including a 1km margin around each reserve) administered by the Department of Conservation.

        Areas under the control of Pumicelands Rural Fire District. (Ranginui Area)

Rural Fire is managed by Council staff with operational response provided by NZFS fire brigades and contracted helicopter, fire fighting and earthmoving operators.

There are approximately 6000 people in the area protected by the Rural Fire Authority.

For more information on Rural Fire visit the National Rural Fire Authority at  http://www.fire.org.nz/

The Otorohanga District Council as the Rural Fire Authority must manage fire prevention and management, and does this by:

        providing education on rural fires, and how to prevent them.

        restricting the use of fire, or even banning the lighting of fires in very dry weather by means of declaring an Open, Restricted or Prohibited fire season.

        being prepared for, and responding to rural fires in the district.

This means that in all cases, any person may light a fire in the open air without a fire permit.  They must of course take all necessary precautions, including:

        No lighting of fire's under windy conditions, near to buildings, neighbours property, or potentially flammable vegetation, materials or liquids.

        Remain in attendance of the fire until it is fully extinguished.

        Fires must not be lit at night without first obtaining a fire permit to do so.

Even though you can light a fire with out a permit, you nevertheless remain responsible for any damage or costs incurred to extinguish it, and can also be prosecuted under certain circumstances (see section below)

Fire restrictions can be applied across most areas of the Otorohanga District when fire danger is high. Typically this is over the summer period of February through to April.  But may be put in place at any time of the year.

Restrictions mean that fire permits need to be obtained from a Rural Fire Officer, who may stipulate conditions on burning that must be met. Three working days are required between the request for a fire permit and the time to burn, to enable staff to inspect sites and process fire permits.  Even though you receive a permit and comply with the conditions, you nevertheless remain responsible for any damage or costs incurred to extinguish it, and can also be prosecuted under certain circumstances (see section below)

People traditionally reliant on burning household rubbish need to be making alternative arrangements for disposal. Fire prevention measures in urban areas enable people to light fire's using approved incinerators (not 40 gallon drums), barbecues, and traditional cooking fires (i.e. Hangi), without a fire permit. This is providing that fires are not lit at night and safeguards are taken to prevent the risk of fire spreading.

Fires must be supervised at all times and equipment must be on hand to extinguish the fire if it gets out of control. Care needs to be taken to ensure that ashes are properly extinguished otherwise they could be re-ignited by the wind. Only gas barbecues may be lit in rural areas without a permit but due care must still be taken.

A total fire ban is only declared where extreme weather and high fire danger conditions prevail. No permits will be issued during this period and therefore no fires are permitted.

Permitted activities in a restricted or prohibited season are:

        Gas-operated barbecue.

        Charcoal barbecue within the confines of an occupied residential property.

        A special permit may be obtained for a hangi or umu.

Permits to burn during a restricted fire season are issued by Rural Fire Officers and may be subject to additional requirements imposed by them. These permits generally apply to the burning of grass, scrub and other vegetation for essential agricultural and industrial purposes. Contact a Council Rural Fire Officer on 07 873 8199 or davec@otodc.govt.nz for further information.

Permits for lighting fires for other purposes, for example industrial burning and cutting, must be obtained from a Council Rural Fire Officer but may be subject to consents from Environment Waikato.

Even though you receive a permit and comply with the conditions, you nevertheless remain responsible for any damage or costs incurred to extinguish it, and can also be prosecuted under certain circumstances (see section below)

Note: These permits are NOT VALID during a TOTAL FIRE BAN.

If you wish to light a fire within 1km of a Department of Conservation reserve, you must obtain a permit from DoC, who operate under a Restricted Fire Season all year.  Contact the Rural Fire Officer at the Dept of Conservation Te Kuiti on 07 878 1050

Likewise people wishing to light a fire in the vicinity of the Pumicelands RFD should discuss with the principal Rural Fire Officer for Pumicelands phone: 07 349 2295

        Ensure trees and tree limbs are kept pruned and well away from homes.

        Plant trees clear of powerlines and keep gutters clear.

        Keep the grass mown around your home.

        Dispose of cigrarettes carefully

        Plant less flammable native tree species near your home.

        Have a family plan for escaping your home.

        Install smoke alarms for early detection.

        Rural homes know your RAPID number and ensure that it can be seen clearly from the road.

        Have a hose attached to your water tap.

        Report any suspicious activities.

        Dial 111 for fire.

        Ensure everyone evacuates the house.

        Dont go back into a burning structure.

        Stay away from vegetation fire.

You need to be aware that the cost of fighting fires on rural land could be passed on to the landowner, or the person who caused the fire.

There are powers in place under the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 to recover the fire fighting costs of fires. 

Council policy is to recover costs wherever possible. Each case is considered on merits.

Some recreational groups have fire suppression insurance cover for their members in case they cause a fire. It would be worthwhile to find out whether the group that you belong to has insurance cover for this purpose, or to join a group that does provide this cover.

In addition families may wish to speak with their insurance company and seek, in addition to the household insurance, coverage for the cost of fire fighting for a fire caused by family members in a rural area.

Contact a Rural Fire Officer at the Council for more information on 07 873 8199 or davec@otodc.govt.nz.

The cost of fighting fires in rural areas is passed on to the individuals responsible and have run from $10,000 to more than $250,000.

Individuals involved in causing fires can also be prosecuted in terms of the Rural Fire legislation.