Fire Season Status
Kapiti Coast Rural Fire Authority operates a ‘restricted’ fire season all year round and may choose to declare a ‘prohibited’ fire season with a total fire ban.
Any person unsure of the fire season can telephone the Council on (04) 296 4700.
Prohibited Fire Season
A prohibited fire season creates a total fire ban. No fires are to be lit in the open air. The only activities permitted during a prohibited fire season are gas-operated barbecues and domestic fireplaces (inside the home). The prohibited fire season is declared when certain fire danger thresholds are reached, generally from mid to late December through to early March.
The prohibited fire season is advertised in The Dominion Post and in local papers, and Total Fire Ban signs are erected within the Kapiti Coast District. Any person unsure of the fire season can telephone the Council.
People are encouraged to get any necessary burns completed well before a prohibited season comes into effect.
FIRES ON ANY PART OF THE BEACH, FORESHORE AND DUNES ARE PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES.
Restricted Fire Season
In a restricted fire season, any burning in the open air requires a permit unless permitted under Part 7.1 of the General Bylaw 1991. Any person who wants to have an uncontained fire (i.e. controlled burns of vegetation or a bonfire) must obtain a fire permit from Council.
Permitted Activities
Some activities (subject to specific conditions) are permitted in a restricted season. These include:
Gas-operated barbecue,
Charcoal barbecue, Hangi or Umu,
Incinerators,
Braziers, chimineria or other outdoor fire places, and
Smokers or burners used to subdue bees or control bee mites.
Specific conditions relating to permitted activities
The fire may only be lit when wind conditions allow and the fire must be extinguished if wind conditions deteriorate,
The Fire must not cause a smoke, ash or odour nuisance that is objectionable beyond the boundary of the property,
The burning of accelerants such as rubber, plastics, oil, diesel and the burning of Copper-Chrome-Arsenic treated timber is prohibited,
Do not light incinerator fires at night,
Do not light fires closer than 3 metres to any property boundary, tree, hedge, building or other structure,
An adequate means to extinguish and prevent the spread of fire must be available at all times,
Burn only dry material,
Maintain constant supervision of any outdoor fire and ensure that fires are properly extinguished before leaving.
Fire Permits
Fire permits can be applied for at the Kapiti Coast District Council. A fire permit for open burning in the residential zone costs $20.00. There is no charge for open burning in the rural zone.
When assessing a permit application, Council staff will carry out a site inspection. The decision to issue a permit will take the following factors into account.
Fire ground location and vehicle access,
Fire type, volume and combustibility,
Vulnerability to wind,
Current and forecast weather conditions,
Potential fire hazards, e.g. peat soils, gas installations, buildings, trees, shrubs, gorse and grass,
Overhead cables, and
Availability of water and fire fighting equipment.
Special fire permits
During a total fire ban, special permits may be obtained to light Hangi or other traditional cooking fires.
Special fire permits are issued at the discretion of the Council officer and subject to a site safety inspection.
Alternatives to burning
Instead of burning consider the following options first:
Use the Paraparaumu or Otaki landfills,
Use Green Waste dumps located at Otaki, Waikanae and Otaihanga landfills,
Use the household rubbish collection service for small amounts of garden rubbish,
Mulch or compost waste vegetation, and
Deliver re-cyclable materials to re-cycling stations.
Construction of Permanent Outdoor Fireplaces
Planning to construct a permanently fixed outdoor fireplace, for instance a barbeque in an outdoor living area? Part 7.1 of the General Bylaw 1991 requires that the fireplace be sited at least 3 metres from an adjoining property boundary. Exceptions can be made if the written permission is obtain from the affected property owner and consideration given to other factors, such as proximity to buildings, trees, hedges or other structure, etc.
Fire Planning
In some instances before a permit is issued a fire management plan may be required, e.g. Guy Fawkes bonfires, public bonfires, etc.
The management plan will clearly identify the person who will be in charge of the fire as well as provide details on:
Location of fire.
Purpose of activity.
Date of fire.
Duration of fire.
Number of people attending.
Public safety measures.
Availability of water and fire suppression measures.
Ability to call for emergency assistance.
Detail the procedures and persons responsible for ensuring the fire is fully extinguished at the end of the event
Fire Safety and Prevention
Here are some ways you can reduce the risk of fire:
Develop a 20 metre buffer zone around your home
Do not store inflammable material such as firewood around the side of your house.
Plant trees well clear of power lines.
Keep grass mown short around the house.
Be prepared for fire:
Have a family plan for escaping from your home.
Install smoke alarms for early detection of fire.
Rural homes: know your RAPID number to advise the operator if a 111 call is made, and ensure the RAPID number is easily seen from the road.
Attach a hose(s) to your house hose tap(s).
Report any suspicious activity.
Be safe in the event of fire:
Dial 111 to report the fire.
Make sure everyone evacuates the house.
Make sure everyone knows where to gather after an evacuation.
Make sure this ‘Assembly Point’ is at the front of the property where the Fire Service can find you.
Never go back into a burning structure.
Stay well away from vegetation fires as they can move very fast.
Rural Fire
The Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC) is a Rural Fire Authority. As such the KCDC is responsible for ensuring the functions of the Forest & Rural Fires Act 1977 are carried out within the Kapiti Coast District.
To administer this function the KCDC has appointed a Principal Rural Fire Officer (PRFO) who is responsible for ensuring that the necessary management functions are in place and properly carried out.
This includes monitoring the fire risk on a daily basis during the fire season and taking the necessary actions to reduce the risk and severity of fire. The PRFO is required to manage any rural fires and have fire suppression capabilities available.
The KCDC has one rural fire force, the Te Horo Rural Fire Force.
The Council has agreements in place with the New Zealand Fire Service and other Rural Fire Forces. It also has the ability to call on an aerial fire fighting capacity through the use of helicopters and monsoon buckets.
Rural Fire Plan
Rural Fire Authorities are required by the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 to have an operational fire plan.
Each year the Kapiti Coast Rural Fire Authority is responsible for reviewing and updating the annual Rural Fire Plan. The Fire Plan is a statement of fire control policy, chain of command and procedures by the Rural Fire Authority.
The fire plan includes preparedness procedures, standing instructions, the command structure, information on personnel and equipment and procedures for various aspects of rural fire.
National Rural Fire Authority
For further information, you can click here to link to the National Rural Fire Authority.