Canterbury will move into a prohibited fire season from 12pm on Monday, 23 December, until further notice.

The ban applies to the area stretching from north of the Rakaia River to just south of the Clarence River, meaning no outdoor fires are permitted, and all fire permits are revoked.

Canterbury District Commander Dave Stackhouse said recent rain had provided some relief, but westerly winds continued to dry out the region.

“The busy holiday period is upon us with greater potential for fires getting started,” he said. “This is on the back of sustained dry conditions and some large wildfires, such as Bridge Hill, Dunsandel, Kirwee, and West Melton.”

Stackhouse said the prohibited fire season was introduced to ensure peace of mind for residents over the Christmas break.

“We’re also aware that farmers, forestry owners, and other landowners will need to carry out some activities such as stubble-burning, so we will review the fire season status for some activities in January,” he said.

He urged people to consider the fire risk before undertaking activities that could generate heat or sparks.

“If you have any queries about fire safety, there is good advice and guidance at checkitsalright.nz,” he said. “The firefighters in Canterbury have been extremely busy with unwanted fires already this month. If we can all take care this summer, then maybe we can have a bit of a holiday break, too.”

The fire ban will remain in place until further notice.