Hill Fire Warning

Paul Devlin (pictured), the Council's head ranger, Port Hills, was stationed at the bottom of Clifton Hill, Sumner, on 27 October encouraging people who live on the hills to be more aware of fire risk.

Chief fire officer Jim McArthur, of Sumner Volunteer Fire Brigade, said the threat of fire on hill properties was a particular concern because some sections had a lot of vegetation, including long grass and salt bush. "And people do things like store rubbish under pole houses."

It was sometimes difficult to get to fires because of access and it was difficult to get to them quickly, he said. The promotion involved the Fire Safety Department, City Council Park Ranger Services and Sumner Volunteer Fire Brigade.