• Burn only dry, seasoned material. Increased moisture content affects the heat of combustion and increases the likelihood of smoke. Allow two days fine weather before burning. 

• Don’t light fires in wind speeds greater than 10 knots i.e. Beaufort scale 3. (leaves and the smallest twigs move in the wind) The ash produced on the fire is more likely to be blown about and the discharges will travel further in high wind conditions. 

• Where possible, stack material to be burned to allow plenty of airflow into the base of the fire to aid efficient burning.

• Don’t light fires when there is likelihood of an inversion layer i.e. when the air is cool and still such as in the evening or early in the morning. The dispersion of smoke is restricted when inversion conditions exist. The smoke will tend to hang about and not rise. 
• The place of combustion should be at least 50m from any road other than a highway and 100m from any highway or dwelling house on an adjoining property or National Park boundary.

Always check with your local district council to ensure fire bans or fire restrictions are not in place. For more information you can also request a copy of the Smoke Sense brochure from Environment Bay of Plenty.