Rural Fire

The Gisborne District Council Rural Fire Authority protects an area of land exceeding 429,000 hectares. This excludes areas of land under the jurisdiction of the NZ Fire Service, Eastland Rural Fire District (commercial forestry), Department of Conservation and Pumicelands Rural Fire District. 

Fire season status today - restricted

See the Notice of Restricted Fire Season

A restricted fire season is in place over the entire Gisborne district.
A prohibited fire season applies to all beaches and coastal areas of the Gisborne district

You must have a written fire permit before you light any fire in the open air.  The only exceptions are gas barbeques and gas cookers.
You can apply for a permit online

You can check the district's fire weather report

To apply for a permit or for more information about fire permits

Read or download the pamphlet - Is your property at risk from fire? 

 A permanent restricted fire season applies to all forests and Department of Conservation territories including a 1 km wide fire safety zone around these properties within the Gisborne district. You must apply to the commercial forestry organisation or the Department of Conservation for a permit.

Rural fire seasons  

The 3 fire seasons are:

Open 

This only applies to rural areas.  Some conditions apply, please check with us first. 

Restricted  

Fire by permit only.  Any person that lights a fire in the open air must have a written fire permit from the Gisborne District Council. 
No resident of, or visitor to, the rural fire area of the Gisborne district is permitted to light any fire in the open air unless a fire permit has been issued by the Gisborne District Council.

Check information about fire permits

Prohibited  

This means a total fire ban.  No fire may be lit in the open air.  The only exception is gas cookers and gas barbeques.
Some exceptions for hangi may be made, for more information contact us.

Fire danger or complaints

If there is immediate danger to people or property - ring 111

If there's no immediate danger to people or property - such as your neighbour is lighting their incinerator when you have washing on the line, please contact us or tell us on an eFix form   

Responsibility

Gisborne District Council has a statutory obligation to carry out the functions of a Rural Fire Authority as set out within the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, and the Forest and Rural Fires Regulations 2005.

The day-to-day management of rural fires is carried out by the Principal Rural Fire Officer (PRFO).  The Principal RFO is responsible for the management of our rural fire stations, equipment, public awareness and the operational prevention, suppression and control of fires.