The biggest risk of large-scale fire is in industrial and rural areas. In rural areas, fire can spread rapidly through steep landscapes and dry vegetation and water supplies are often some distance away. The Hutt area has had several significant rural fires in recent years, mainly in Eastbourne and Wainuiomata. Fires are not only dangerous to people and property but also they are expensive to suppress and create unsightly scars in the environment.
It is imperative that everyone is aware of the risk of fire, particularly in summer. Warmer weather and less rain makes potential fuels easier to ignite, while wind can dramatically affect the rate of fire spread. People often unintentionally create a fire risk through their leisure and recreational activities. Camp fires, barbecues and cigarettes present a very real fire threat during hot weather and should be used with extreme caution.