An increase in uncontrolled rubbish fires, which pose a significant risk to public safety and the environment, is being exacerbated by the dry spell with windy conditions experienced in Rarotonga.

The issue of carelessly managed rubbish heap fires has become increasingly concerning, particularly during dry and gusty conditions.

Despite repeated warnings from Airport Authority Crash Fire, Teimorimotia Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Vaka Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade, people continue to light their fires without considering the potential consequences,

According to the fire brigades, this negligence not only jeopardises public safety and people’s homes but also burdens their volunteer firefighters, who are frequently called to fires that could have been easily prevented.

On Friday afternoon, three fires broke out, including one that gutted an abandoned home in Atupa.

Puaikura firefighter volunteer Tarina Moorfield said the blaze resulted from rubbish fires that got out of control spreading to the empty home nearby. Flames were blazing metres high in the nearby trees.

Teimorimotia fire chief Alistair Macquarie, who also attended the Atupa scene, said after returning their fire trucks to the depot in Titikaveka, he was on his way back to work in Nikao when he received another call.

“I was at Avana when I received another call to Vaimaanga at the back road…” There was a scrub fire burning beside a private garden.

The third reported scrub fire was in the back road of Puaikura. Fortunately, this fire was under control.

Maara Vaiimene, the director of the Cook Islands Meteorological Service, said Rarotonga had been experiencing windy conditions last week. These conditions can contribute to fires spreading out of control when people light fires to clear land areas or rubbish heaps around plantations or near homes.

“With low rainfall currently being experienced and steady warm temperatures throughout, there is potential for fire hazards more so in uncontrolled and windy situation,” said Vaiimene.

“With the current weather Rarotonga is experiencing there is stress on the water supply to meet current consumption demands let alone sufficient supply for fire outbreaks.”

According to Vaiimene, an area of fine weather (high pressure) to the south of Rarotonga has kept the rain clouds (trough) between the southern and northern Cooks but closer to the Northern Cooks.

“The southern Cook Islands will continue to experience current weather conditions of brief showers throughout the weekend, the community needs to be aware of the dry conditions we are experiencing,” he explained.

“The climate rainfall outlook for Southern Cook Islands for the month of November is for below average rainfall and expected to continue through to December. With brief showers in the forecast there is a slight relief at times when these do occur.”

Rainfall data for November from selected meteorological stations as of November 22, 2024, are: Aitutaki 77 millimetres, Cook Islands Meteorological Office in Nikao 70mm, Titikaveka 59mm, Penrhyn 123mm and Manihiki 300mm.

Vaiimene said: “The mostly fine weather we are currently experiencing has positive outcomes; however, the community needs to be more watchful and aware.”