Fire season status

The official fire season starts on October 1 and ends on April 30 in the following year. The Wanganui District Council operates a year-round 'restricted' fire season in certain areas of the District.

There are three types of fire season:

Open fire season - No permit required (see map of permanently restricted zones)

The lighting of fires in the open air in that area or district is neither prohibited or restricted.

Restricted fire season - Permit required

A permit to burn in the open air must be obtained for urban areas year-round and for rural areas in certain conditions. In a restricted fire season any person who wants to burn off materials in incinerators, have controlled burns of vegetation or light fires for any reason must first obtain a free fire permit.

Prohibited fire season - No fires; existing permits cancelled

A prohibited fire season is a total fire ban in both the rural and urban fire districts. No fires are to be lit in the open air. The prohibited fire season is declared when certain fire danger thresholds are reached, generally from mid to late December through to early March. However, there may be specific health and safety reasons for which a special permit may be granted in a prohibited fire season.

The prohibited fire season is advertised in the Council's Community Link page in the Wanganui Chronicle, on the radio and signs are erected in various locations throughout the District. If you are unsure of the fire season, please contact the Wanganui District Council, phone 349 0001.