All outdoor fires in Canterbury are banned until next Monday, following a declaration of a prohibited fire season by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) for the Canterbury District.

The ban will run until 11.59pm on Monday, 9 September.

A prohibited fire season means a total ban on outdoor fires, and all previously granted fire permits are no longer valid.

Acting District Commander David Key said the decision was made due to continued warm and windy weather forecasts for the district over the coming days.

“While the fire danger is currently at the lower end, it is the strong winds that are of major concern. We have seen numerous fires occur due to similar weather patterns over the last three months. A prohibited fire season is the best way to try and prevent further fires across the region.”

Recent high winds and warm weather have already contributed to a fire at a forestry block in Waipara, North Canterbury.

The fire jumped containment lines yesterday and has since doubled in size, with multiple crews expected to be on site until the end of the week.

“We have seen how high winds have caused extreme fire behaviour and difficult conditions for firefighting at Waipara,” Key said.

Key urged residents to check any old burn piles to ensure they are fully extinguished. He also recommended visiting [Check It’s Alright](www.checkitsalright.nz) for tips and fire safety advice during the prohibited fire season.