Fire and Emergency is asking people to put off any outdoor burning until after Labour Day, with MetService warning of strong winds from Tuesday and more to come on Thursday, likely continuing through Monday.

Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said the combination of wind, warm temperatures and low humidity will keep fire danger elevated across much of the country, particularly along the east coasts of both islands. Areas of most concern include Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury and Southland, though FENZ says fires could occur elsewhere.

“While vegetation may appear green, this can be deceptive — dead fuels, such as grass and leaves, remain present and can ignite easily,” Stiffler said. “A fire in these conditions would spread very quickly and be difficult for our crews to be able to control.” High winds could also limit the use of aircraft, further complicating firefighting efforts.

FENZ says 98% of wildfires are started by people and is asking the public not to light new fires this week. A brief lull expected on Wednesday shouldn’t be treated as a green light; any fires lit then have a high chance of reigniting when winds pick up again on Thursday.

People who have recently burned are urged to go back and make sure those sites are fully out. Stiffler’s advice: dig down or rake open the ash, then add water to ensure it’s cold and dead. Crews may already be tied up with weather-related callouts, so avoiding new ignitions will help keep resources available.

Current fire risk information and local restrictions are at www.checkitsalright.nz.