The Nelson-Marlborough Fire and Emergency crew are bracing Marlborough residents for a period of heightened wildfire risk due to a dry and windy spring and summer.
With the region already experiencing the early impacts of a strong El Niño – an active climate pattern that causes stronger and more frequent winds, below-normal rainfall and extended dry spells – assistant district commander Shane O’Brien urges Marlborough residents to prepare sufficiently and take caution around vulnerable areas.
Shane says the department’s main message is to ensure people understand the risk at their property, clearing dead and dry vegetation that can act as fuel.
“We’re talking to people about making sure that they have a clear area around their home, so long dry grass, that kind of thing, is cut away.”
The message applies to both urban and rural residents, who should also plan evacuation routes in advance, including how to leave their homes efficiently, where to go to reach safety, and having emergency supply ‘grab bags’ prepared.
Rural residents often face the extra challenge of ensuring burn-offs stay under control and managing livestock evacuations in an emergency, he says.
“If people are using fire for burn-offs or rubbish disposal, they need to check on it regularly, especially if high winds come up,” Shane adds, explaining they should “ensure it is properly extinguished – that means raking it over and wetting it down”.
He says that many wildfires begin as a result of old fires smouldering for weeks at a time, eventually being reignited by wind and spreading.
He urges people to use Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s online ‘Check It’s Alright’ tool before starting fires, which assesses current conditions and whether the area is in an open, restricted or prohibited fire season.
Shane reflects on substantial historic grass fires that have occurred in the Wither Hills, most notably the Boxing Day fire in 2000, which burnt across 6100 hectares.
“Certainly, the Wither Hills Farm Park is always of concern, and that is because it dries out very quickly,” he says.
He explains that the area is even more of a worry as it is now a popular recreational spot, with the farm park attracting lots of visitors.
“One message we would like to get out is if during the heat of the summer the farm park is closed to the public on what we call high fire days – a day where we’re expecting high temperatures and high winds, and it’s been a sustained time of high temperatures – people actually took that closure seriously.
“If it says it’s closed, don’t go up there.
“We’d rather put our resources into fighting the fire rather than have to put our resources into evacuating people who we don’t want to be there,” he continues.
Shane’s take-home message is: “Please ring 111 if you are concerned about anything or you see anything. Don’t ever be scared of ringing triple one. We would rather come and investigate and find nothing than somebody thinks ‘oh, it’ll be alright’.”
Craig Piner, risk management leader and firefighter in the Nelson-Marlborough region, also gives a reminder to locals about the seriousness of El Niño’s influence.
“This is our first El Niño in a long time and it’s a strong one. We’re asking people in our region to prepare their properties for a wildfire season.”
