Dry conditions prompt total fire ban
[Copied and pasted from an email I received from christchurch.getsready.net...
A total fire ban is being put in place across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula as the fire risk in the area escalates.
A restricted fire season has been in place since mid January but with the countryside drying out and more warm weather predicted, Christchurch City Council Principal Rural Fire Officer Darrin Woods has decided to declare a prohibited fire season.
The total fire ban will come into effect as of midnight on Saturday, February 11 and will remain in force until the fire risk lessens.
Mr Woods said the current conditions in the Christchurch City Council Rural Fire District were somewhat unusual for this time of the year.
“While the Port Hills and some other parts of the city appear very brown there is still a deceptive tinge of green across the area. However, the amount of fuel available to burn is substantial and any ignitions under warm windy conditions are likely to be successful and sustained.
“Imposing the prohibition is a proactive measure to try and reduce the risk of unwanted and potentially damaging fires,’’ Mr Woods said.
During the prohibition the lighting of all fires in the open air is banned, including barbecues and other such devices which use or contain solid fuels. Gas fuelled barbecues and gas cookers can still be used.
Mr Woods said some special permits for fires might be issued during the prohibition but they would typically be limited to biosecurity and public health related matters. Such requests would be carefully considered on a case by case basis.
He urged anyone who spotted a fire or smoke to call 111 immediately as early detection could minimise the damage.
Find out more about the fire season status and restrictions.
ccc.govt.nz...
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
-
36.4% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
-
63.6% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Loading…
