Darfield railway fires prompt restricted fire season in Canterbury

The fires along the Darfield railway line have underscored the heightened wildfire risks in the area, prompting official action.

Fire and Emergency Canterbury District Commander Dave Stackhouse has declared a restricted fire season effective from 8 am, Wednesday, 10 January, until further notice.

This declaration means that anyone in Canterbury planning to light an open-air fire will now need to obtain a permit.

This measure is intended to reduce the likelihood of wildfires, ensuring that any open-air fires are conducted safely and under controlled conditions.

Commander Stackhouse said “you only have to see from the events of this week how small sparks can quickly turn into large fires which threaten homes and communities."

He noted that although a restricted fire season would not have necessarily prevented the recent fires, it adds a layer of protection against unplanned fires through the regulation of open-air fires.

The past two years have seen an increase in rainfall in the district, resulting in the growth of grass and vegetation.

However, this vegetation is now drying out, creating a challenging situation for fire containment.

Firefighting crews have observed that containing and extinguishing even small fires has become more demanding in these conditions.

Stackhouse also emphasised the importance of checking weather conditions beforehand.

He advised against lighting fires on hot and windy days, even with a permit, and recommended performing spark-generating activities like mowing or grinding during cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or evening.