DOC Closes Land to Vehicles; FIRE DANGER

By KEAST, John

Extreme fire danger has forced the Department of Conservation (DOC) to ban vehicles on public conservation land around the Ashburton lakes and the Mackenzie Basin.

The ban follows a spate of fires in Canterbury parks and reserves over the past few weekends, some believed to have been caused by off- road vehicles.

DOC fire-support officer Tony Teeling said a recent fire above Lake Clearwater, inland from Ashburton, was probably started by motorbikes ridden in extremely dry grassland.

He said conditions were so dry it took only one spark to start a blaze.

Teeling said the areas were well used by anglers, walkers and mountain-bikers and if a fire took off down a valley it could threaten lives and property.

Most of Canterbury has fire restrictions in place, with total fire bans in the Mackenzie Basin and Ashburton Lakes. In other places, fire danger was being reviewed daily.

"Yes, we’ve had rain on the coast and in the mountains, but there’s a big piece in the middle over the foothills that missed out," Teeling said.

The vehicle ban is effective immediately and will remain in place until the fire danger is lower.

Gates across some accessways will be locked with signs outlining the reason for temporary closure.

DOC staff will patrol the Ashburton Lakes over Easter.

Canterbury DOC firefighters have been called out to 11 fires in the past two months.

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