Notice of prohibition of fires in the open air within the city of Christchurch
(Imposed Pursuant to Section 11 of the Christchurch City Fire Safety Bylaw 2007)
Notice is hereby given that the prohibition on fires in the open air over those parts of the district which are fire district declared or constituted under Section 26 of the Fire Service Act 1975 is imposed by Clause 11 of the Christchurch City Fire Safety Bylaw 2007 for the period midnight 17 of December 2011 until further notice.
The prohibition applies to those parts of the district which are a Fire District declared as constituted under Section 26 of the Fire Service Act 1975 and these are Brooklands, New Brighton, Sumner, Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Diamond Harbour, Little River and Akaroa and Christchurch Urban Fire Districts (where District is defined as meaning “for which the Council is the territorial authority”). The Council may extend the prohibition.
During any such prohibition no person shall light any fire in the open air and no person being the occupier of any premises shall cause, permit, or suffer any such fire to be lit there or to continue to burn there. The penalty for such an offence is a fine of up to $20,000.
The purpose of the prohibition is to conserve public safety by preventing danger from fire. Note: The Council may at any time, where in its opinion special reason exists or may exist to prevent the outbreak or spread of fire, prohibit the lighting of fires in the open air for any specified additional period of time within all or any districts of the city as listed above.
Please note: This prohibition does not apply to:
1. Any barbeque or hangi provided –
(a) it is not likely to constitute a danger to any person or property by reason of its location, risk of spread, inadequate containment, prevailing wind or otherwise; and
(b) there is immediately available a pressurised water supply connected to a hose; and
(c) it is adequately supervised.
2. Any fire in the open air in respect of which the occupier of the land upon which the fire is situated has obtained from the Council an exemption from the prohibition.
Exemptions may, under Section 12 of the Bylaw, be granted in exceptional circumstances in that:
(a) the fire is urgently required to prevent, reduce or overcome any hazard to life, health, property or the environment; and
(b) the use of fire is the most efficient and effective means to reduce any risk of hazard to life, health, property or the environment.
Applications for exceptions may be made in writing to the Inspections and Enforcement Unit, Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street Christchurch 8011, P O Box 73013 Christchurch 8154 or at any Council Service Centre. (The issue of an exemption is not a legal defence against claims for damage arising by reason of the fire. The responsibility for its control and liability for any damage which may arise lies with the person lighting the fire.)
Gary Lennan
Inspections & Enforcement Manager
Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City rural fire area including Banks Peninsula notification of restricted fire season
(Imposed Pursuant to Section 22(2) of Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977)
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section 22 (2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 a Restricted Fire Season is imposed by the Christchurch City Council over the rural area for which the Council is the Fire Authority under the Forests and Rural Fires Act 1977, for the period midnight Saturday 17 December until further notice.
The rural area for which the Council is the Fire Authority under the Forest and Rural Forest Act 1977 covers all of the district administered by the Council as territorial authority pursuant to the Local Government Act 2002 (i.e. the City of Christchurch) except:
1. The Christchurch Urban Fire District, Brooklands, New Brighton, Sumner, Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Governors Bay, Little River and Akaroa Fire Districts established under Section 26 of the Fire Service Act 1975; and
2. State areas.
Please Note:
1. The restriction does not apply to barbeques (in enclosed containers) lit on a property serviced by a domestic water supply.
2. During a restricted fire season it is an offence to light any fire in the open air unless a permit has been obtained from the Christchurch City Council. Applications for permits may be made to the City Environment Group, Civic Offices, 121 Tuam Street, Christchurch (telephone (03) 941 8999 ). Please allow at least 48 hours prior to burn date to allow for time for site inspection and issue of permit.
3. Any permit issued is not a legal defence to claims for damage which may arise from the fire. The responsibility for its control and the liability for any damage which might arise lie with the person lighting the fire.
4. The continuation of the restriction will be constantly reviewed and the restriction may be lifted earlier or extended depending on the fire risk. Any such alteration will be publicly notified.
K A Marshall
Principal Rural Fire Officer
Christchurch City Council
