Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 No 52 (as at 01 January 2008), Public Act

20 Prohibition of fires during extreme fire hazard
  • (1) On any specified day or days in respect of which the National Rural Fire Officer has caused to be broadcast a warning of the occurrence or likelihood of the occurrence of weather or other conditions that may present an extreme fire hazard whereby life and property may be endangered by the outbreak or spreading of fires in any specified area, whether in a district or not, no person shall in that area light any fire in the open air or cause or permit any such fire to be lighted notwithstanding any other enactment.

    (2) On any specified day or days in respect of which a Fire Officer has, by notice, given a warning to any person of the occurrence or likelihood of the occurrence of weather or other conditions that may present an extreme fire hazard whereby life and property may be endangered by the outbreak or spreading of fires in any specified area, whether in a district or not, that person shall not in that area light any fire in the open air or cause or permit any such fire to be lighted notwithstanding any other enactment.

    (3) Every person commits an offence against this Act who, during the currency of any such warning, and without the authority of a special permit issued pursuant to section 24 of this Act, lights any fire in the open air, or causes or permits any such fire to be lighted.

    Compare: 1955 No 44 s 18

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 32(1) State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986 (1986 No 124) by omitting the words or Director-General.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 2(1)(a) Forest and Rural Fires Amendment 1987 (1987 No 119) by inserting the words of Forestry.

    Subsection (1) was amended as from 1 January 1991, by section 15 Forest and Rural Fires Amendment Act 1990 (1990 No 137) by substituting the words National Rural Fire Officer for the words Minister of Forestry.