DoC needs public co-operation to stop fires

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 269, 22 December 1988, Page 12

DoC needs public co-operation to stop fires

A rising number of fires on conservation land has led the Department of Conservation (DOC) to call for public co-op-eration in protecting forest this summer.

Waikato Region fire control officer Simon Kclton said most of the 11 fires DOC has so far bcen called to this summer have been minor, costing from $100 to $500 to control. However the blaze startcd in the Tongariro District on Guy Fawkes night cost in excess of $60,000 to put out. DOC had to pay for hclicopter hire and, for the first time, fixedwing acroplanes had been uscd to drop fire retardant foam on the fire. This proved very effective but even s o valuable financial resources had been expendcd on the exercise, Mr Kclton said. On avcrage about 780 rural fires are startcd by accident or arson cvery ycar in New Zcaland, burning an area the size of Abel Tasman National Park. Landclearers are the major culprits in these, burning five times morc vegctation than picnickcrs, hunters and vchicle drivers combincd. However when it comcs to wild fires - blazcs gone completely out of control - recreational hunters are the worst culprits. ll is scrub which suffers the most damage in fires but a major blaze can also destroy older podocarp forest, which takcs hundreds of ycars to regcnerate. Only four ycars ago a major fire in ihe Kaimanawa Ranges, cast of Mt Ruapehu, cost $2 million to control and dcstroyed a large area of forest, Mr Kclton said. Campers and visitors to conservation land are asked to use gas bumers and gas barbecues, rathcr than open fires or charcoal barbecucs. This not only decrcascs the chances of accidental fire, but protects native vegetation from b e i n g chopped down for fuel, he said. DOC fire permits are required on conservation land, and within 1.5km of conservation land, 365 days of the year. This includes open camp fires, hangis, barbecues and rubbish fires, he said. Failure to comply with a fire permit, or lighting a fire without a permit, can result in large fines. DOC will also be recovering its fire fighting costs from those found to have been responsible for causing fires, Mr Kelton said. Meanwhile Tainui District conservator

John Greenwood said that last week three fires had been lit, without permits, close

to the Whangamarino Wetlands. DOC officers had been forced to investigate each fire whereas, if landowners obtained a permit, this effort would not have been necessary. Permits are

free and usually take only a day or two to process, he said. Mr Greenwood also called for care in the outdoors these holidays. If no more rain fell in the next few weeks, fire risk levels

could quickly peak and put forests at risk. "We're calling for recreationalists to be careful over t h e Christmas period because DOC has a lot less man-power available during that period.

Because of this fires will be a lot more difficult to control and we would probably have to bring in helicopters," he said. Fire control officers will be on duty in every DOC district during

the holidays and throughout the summer fire risk period. If a fire is seen on or near conservation land, these officers can be contacted by telephoning the nearest DOC office.