Editorial: Waimate fire a call to vigilance

OPINION: It's the time of the year when we expect to start seeing footage of bushfires raging across the Tasman in Australia, where summer temperatures soar and fires can quickly spread across thousands of hectares of bushland due to strong winds.

So far this December is following the normal pattern as far as bushfires there go, with fires in several Australian states, including New South Wales and Victoria, though thankfully there has been no repeat of the devastation and loss of life that happened in Victoria in February.

Given the lower temperatures and, it would seem, extra rainfall that we get on this side of the ditch, the temptation would be to feel that we're sitting pretty here, with no danger of the same sort of thing happening.

For the most part, that's probably true, but the fire that flared up in forest near Waimate at the weekend should serve as a reminder to us all of the risk we do face and the ongoing need for vigilance.

At time of writing, the cause of the blaze is still being investigated. But if we don't yet know what gave rise to it, we certainly do know that it could have been much more serious than it was. Fortunately it was brought under control before it could do too much damage, but it had the potential to be much more destructive.

Thus far, it has not been a particularly hot summer in South Canterbury, but the weather could heat up at any time, raising the fire danger level considerably.

There are fire restrictions and fire bans in place in various parts of South Canterbury and we all have a responsibility to make sure we understand exactly what the terms of those regulations are before we even contemplate lighting a fire.

Often, major fires are sparked by something small, such as a carelessly discarded cigarette butt, which has not been properly extinguished. Lack of care in disposing of such dangerous items can have dire consequences. As the advertisements say, we need to be fire wise at this time of the year, to prevent a time of enjoyment and relaxation turning sour.

Christmas dinner:

The community Christmas dinner held in Timaru each year is a significant event and a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who give their time and energy for the enjoyment of others.

With similar events in other centres apparently hit hard by the ongoing fallout from the recent recession, it's great to know that Timaru's dinner is still going ahead. That speaks volumes for the spirit in this community.