“All burned up, Jane, look,” was a favourite comment from my father-in-law to my mother-in-law on their only visit to NZ. With his drawling American accent it added a new dimension to the realityof the dry, parched summer ground.
This year in Northland the ground looks worse and fire danger levels are high! Restrictions are in place with fires either banned or requiring permits. It makes the reality of my work with our regional wildfires reduction campaign very obvious. No need for any other source of trouble to “burn the ground up”.
I’m involved with a team of folks from DOC, our district councils and the fire service to raise awareness of the consequences of wildfires. If you don’t have a permit, or fires are banned, or they get away on you – it’s a big financial consequence for starters – from the pocket of whoever is responsible. No nice way around that one, so best not to go there! Me and my colleagues want everyone to enjoy summer but we need your help to do it.
