Northland, New Zealand, will be under a total fire ban starting at midnight on Saturday due to dangerous fire conditions.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand announced the ban because of the region’s dry, hot, and windy weather. This means no outdoor fires are allowed anywhere in Northland.
District manager Wipari Henwood warned that lighting fires is too risky right now. “We have a huge fire risk, and recent fires have put a lot of pressure on our firefighters,” he said. Over 90% of Northland’s firefighters are volunteers, and frequent fire emergencies are affecting them, their families, and their jobs.
Henwood also urged people to avoid activities that create sparks, such as mowing, welding, and using chainsaws, until there has been enough rain. “It only takes one spark to start a fire in these conditions,” he cautioned. Authorities are asking everyone to be extra careful to prevent dangerous wildfires.
