Regardless of repeated warnings and the clear dangers associated with lighting rubbish heap fires in extended periods of dry weather, many people continue to disregard safety guidelines, especially during windy conditions.

Yesterday’s incident in Matavera, where the fire was called out yet again to extinguish the blaze, highlights a troubling trend.

According to the owner of the property who did not wish to be named, his daughter had lit a rubbish heap inside an outdoor concrete umu (oven).

He said his daughter had waited for the fire to go down before going inside their home but shortly after she heard a pop.

Rushing outside she saw the fire had flared up and engulfed the nearby iron roofed shed, destroying it.

Airport Authority fire officer Jean Paul Tua said their five firefighters attended the scene.

“We have to be vigilant and be very careful.

“In these windy conditions it doesn’t take long for the wind to pick up  embers and spread the fire.

“This is the dry season; we are really short of water and we really can’t afford to be using all this water to put out these fires.

“No matter if you think its safe to light a fire when it’s this windy it’s not, because it’s too risky,” Tua said.

Fortunately, the blaze did not reach the neighbouring banana plantation, he added.

Tua would like to remind the community not to light fires in these current dry and windy conditions, especially with low water pressure.

The Teimorimota volunteer fire tanker attended the scene with water to top up the airport fire truck. Just last weekend volunteer firefighters had a busy weekend attending to three uncontrollable rubbish fires within a 48-hour period.