RODNEY DISTRICT COUNCIL GENERAL BYLAW: 1998
CHAPTER 3
FIRES IN THE OPEN AIR
EXPLANATION
The Council has powers under Section 146(c) of the Local Government Act 2002 to make a bylaw for the purpose of preventing the spread of fires in the open air. Any such bylaw is subject to Sections 20 to 22 of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977.
This chapter of this bylaw has been made in order to meet this purpose. The bylaw relates to the prevention of the spreading of fires in the open air within Urban Fire Districts. Outside these Fire Districts, the provisions of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and the Forest and Rural Fires Regulations 2005 apply.
This chapter of this bylaw requires that fires in the open air cannot be lit unless during an open fire season and subject to certain conditions or during a restricted fire season in accordance with a permit issued by the Council. There is also provision for a prohibited fire season to be specified during periods of extreme hazard There are restrictions relating to the storage of timber, hay, and combustible materials, and to prevent smoke and ash causing a nuisance.
This bylaw is in addition to the requirements of the Auckland Regional Air, Land and Water Plan and any other statute.
1. Scope
1.1 This chapter of this bylaw relates to the prevention of the spreading of fires in the open air inside the Urban Fire Districts of the Rodney District. Urban Fire District
1.2 This chapter of this bylaw is in addition to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2002, which gives the Council powers to ensure the removal of vegetation and material that is likely to be a source of fire danger. Section 183 Local Government Act 2002
1.3 This chapter of this bylaw is complementary to the provisions of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and the Forest and Rural Fires Regulations 2005.
1.4 The operative Air Land and Water Plan 2003 of the Auckland Regional Council may require a consent to be obtained for a fire in the open air. ARC Air, Land and Water Plan 2003
1.5 This chapter of this bylaw is subject to Sections 20 to 22 of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, and hence any warning of extreme fire hazard issued under that section of the Act.
2. Prohibition and restriction of fires during periods of extreme fire hazard
2.1 The Council or any a Authorised Officer may, at any time prescribe a prohibited or restricted fire season or seasons within the District or in any specified part or parts thereof, and may at any time cancel or vary such a prescription
2.2 The Council or any authorised officer shall give public notice as defined in Chapter 1 of this Bylaw, and: If the Council or any authorised officer considers it desirable, by broadcast or other effective means within the District.
2.3 No person being the occupier of any premises shall cause, permit or allow any fire in the open air to be lit on the premises or to continue to burn there in contravention of any prohibition or restriction made under this chapter of this bylaw.
3. Fires in the Open Air
3.1 Regardless of whether or not permission has been obtained under any other statute no person shall light any fire in the open air or cause or permit any such fire to be lit other than:
(a) In accordance with the requirements of this bylaw; or
(b) During an Open Fire Season; or
Open Fire Season
(c) During a Restricted Fire Season, in accordance with a written
permit in the form set out in the Schedule to this chapter of this
bylaw or to like effect, from the Council or any authorised
officer; or
(d) During a Prohibited Fire Season, in accordance with an
exemption granted by the Council or any authorised officer
under Clause 4 of this chapter of this bylaw.
3.2 A “Fire in the Open Air” is defined in Chapter 1 - Bylaw Administration. Fire in the Open Air
3.3 Nothing in section 3.1 shall apply to a recognised ethnic cooking fire. Provided that the Council or authorised officer may, in certain circumstances, include the above where it is considered necessary to do so.
4. Exemptions from prohibition on lighting fires in the open air
4.1 Subject to Section 20 of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977:
(a) The occupier of any premises in which any activity is being
carried out which necessitates the use of fire in the open air,
may apply in writing to the Council for an exemption from any
Prohibited Fire Season imposed under this chapter of this
bylaw where that activity would be prejudicially affected by
such prohibition.
5. Conditions on lighting fires in the open air
5.1 No person shall light any fire in the open air or cause or permit any
such fire to be lit and no person being the occupier of any premises
shall cause, allow or permit any such fire to be lit or to continue to
burn on the premises:
(a) Without any prior consent as may be required under any act,
regulation, bylaw or regional plan, and;
(b) When conditions are such that the fire is likely to spread
beyond the premises or out of that person’s control; or
(c) Within 3 metres of any part of a building, tree, hedge, fence or
other combustible material; or
(d) In urban areas between the hours of sunset and sunrise,
without prior written consent from the Council or any
authorised officer; or
(e) Without maintaining adequate supervision to prevent the fire
from spreading until such fire is fully extinguished; or
(f) Where the location, wind, or other conditions cause or are
likely to cause the fire to become;
i. a danger to any person or property; or
ii. a smoke or ash nuisance to any person.
(g) Conditions (b) to (f) also apply to any barbeque or ethnic
cooking fire.
6. Storage of timber
6.1 Except as provided in Clauses 6.2 and 6.3 of this chapter of this bylaw no occupier of any premises shall permit the storage or stacking in the open of timber, firewood, wooden cases, or similar combustible material unless the distance of the stack from any boundary of the premises other than a street boundary is at least equal to the height of the stack, but in any case not less than 1.5 metres.
6.2 A stack of timber, firewood, wooden cases, or similar combustible material may be placed closer to the boundary than the distance specified in Clause 6.1 if a wall constructed of fire-resistant material complying with a minimum of 1 hour fire rating and extending not less than 0.5 metres above and not less than 1.5 metres beyond the length of the stack, is situated between the stack and the boundary.
6.3 A stack of timber, firewood, wooden cases, or similar combustible
material may, with the prior written consent of the adjoining owner
and the Council (or any authorised officer), be placed closer to the
boundary than the distance specified in Clause 6.1 while any of the
following conditions continue to exist:
(a) There is a fire-resistant wall as defined in Clause 6.2 without
openings situated on the adjoining property and within 1.5
metres of the common boundary; or
(b) There are no buildings on the adjoining land.
7. Storage of combustible materials
7.1 No person shall:
(a) Permit the storage or stacking in the open of any hay,
sawdust, or similar combustible material unless the distance of
the stack from any building, boundary, street, private street,
public place, or adjacent land, is not less than 6 metres and
from any dwelling or from any building on adjacent premises is
not less than 15 metres and the intervening space is at all
times kept free from rubbish, refuse, or obstruction of any kind.
(b) Permit the storage of any hay, sawdust, or similar combustible
material in any building attached to or at a distance of less
than 6 metres from any other building, and not less than 15
metres from any dwelling or from any building on adjacent
premises, unless the first mentioned building has a roof of
approved fire-resistant material and walls constructed wholly of
fire resistant material and complying with Clause 7.2 hereof.
7.2 A stack of hay, sawdust, or similar combustible material may, with
the prior written consent of the adjoining owner and the Council (or
any authorised officer), be placed closer to the boundary than the
distance specified in Clause 7.1 while any of the following conditions
continue to exist:
(a) There is a fire-resistant wall as defined in Clause 6.2 without
openings situated on the adjoining property and within 1.5
metres of the common boundary; or
(b) There are no buildings on the adjoining land.
7.3 The provisions of Clause 7.1 shall not apply in any case where hay, straw, sawdust or similar combustible material required for the keeping of horses or calves is kept or stored in any building used only for the purpose of or in connection with a stable or calf shed.
8. Breach of Bylaw
8.1 Where the Council or any authorised officer reasonably believes that
any fire in the open air contravenes this bylaw, the Council or any
authorised officer shall have the right:
(a) To extinguish the fire with the assistance of the Fire Service or
by any other means available;
(b) To recover the cost of extinguishing the fire from any person
(including an occupier) who lit the fire or caused or permitted
the fire to be lit; and
(c) To proceed under Section 183 of the Local Government Act
2002, to ensure the removal, by the owner or occupier of land or
by the Council or its agents, of vegetation or similar combustible
materials and to recover the costs of doing so.
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