Extreme fire danger has prompted the suspension of all active fire permits across Canterbury from 11:59pm Friday 9 January until 08:00 Monday 12 January.

Fire and Emergency said scorching conditions expected across the region this weekend meant extra precautions were needed to keep communities safe.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said “Do not light any fires during this time.” The spokesperson also said “If you see any smoke or flames, call 111 immediately.”

People were urged to check any previous burn piles, even if they were more than a week old, and to take care when carrying out hot works or activities that could create sparks, including mowing lawns in the cooler parts of the day such as early morning.

Fire and Emergency said Canterbury remained in a Restricted Fire Season, and anyone planning to light a fire after the weekend should visit checkitsalright.nz to apply for a permit. All suspended permits were set to become active again after 08:00 Monday 12 January.