Thread: Fires

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

For forum users I will try to clarify on monday a few anomalies this has bought up - DOC run a restricted season year around - but this web site does not seem to be able to specifically log into a specified DOC area - rather it will go to nearest town - I will do some home work on monday and see what the rules are - this is an important one as the consequences can be financially severe

okay from DOC website
Lighting fires on public conservation land
Introduction
Find out when and where you can light fires at huts, campsites and in the backcountry on public conservation land.
On public conservation land, you must not light any fires:

where there is a restricted fire season in place
during a prohibited fire season (fire ban), or
where signs say fires are not permitted.
The only exception is the fireplaces inside DOC huts which you can use any time.

At other times, you can only light fires in certain places and you must follow the specific conditions below.

Visit Check it's alright before lighting a fire to check it's safe, and get advice on reducing fire risks.



Lighting fires at campsites
Lighting fires in the backcountry
The "backcountry" refers to areas that are over an hour's walk from the nearest road end.

You can light campfires in the backcountry only if:

there is no fire ban in place, and
there are no notices prohibiting fires there, and
the fire is at least 3 metres away from trees and anything that could catch fire, and
the fire is smaller than 0.5 m in width and in height.
campfire-diagram-600.png
Backcountry fires must be under 0.5 m in size and have 3 metres of clear space around it

Some vegetation types are inherently prone to burning regardless of season. Be careful lighting around long grass, manuka, gorse and tussockland.

Portable fireplaces or stoves using solid fuel such as wood, pellets, charcoal or coal are not permitted on public conservation land. The incorrect disposal of ashes could cause fires..

so it looks as if one can have a fire in the back country under DOC,s rules provided the DOC land has not gone to a prohibited season- but you can see by the statements underlined its not well written -