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Forestry News

Fire risk forces cuts to logging

13 March 2013

Nelson logging crews are working half days and public access to most of the region's forests is being closed as the relentlessly hot weather and spiralling fire danger continues to bite. 

 

The wider forest industry is expected to take a hit with the reduced production hours, although those affected say it is too early to assess the full cost. Less affected are contractors with infrared sensors on harvesting machinery, which enables them to work at night.

Nelson logging crews are working half days and public access to most of the region's forests is being closed as the relentlessly hot weather and spiralling fire danger continues to bite.
The wider forest industry is expected to take a hit with the reduced production hours, although those affected say it is too early to assess the full cost.
Commercial forests in Hira and Golden Downs moved to code orange yesterday triggering a compulsory noon cutoff for using chainsaws to avoid the risk of fire starting at the hottest time of the day. The code is driven by daily fire risk assessments.
Code orange saw chainsaw operation end at noon, tree extraction at 1pm and skid site processing finish at 3.30pm.
About 100 millimetres of rain is needed to relieve the fire risk. Forecasters expect rain on Sunday but predict it will quickly diminish to threats of showers in the following few days.
Nelson Management's chief operating officer David Robinson said the forest industry last faced such dry conditions in 2001.
Moutere Logging's managing director Dale Ewers said installing infra-red cameras on his mechanised tree extraction operations, which hauled felled timber from the bush, meant his crews started pulling wood from 4am.
"The shorter days have affected our operation but not as much as normal because we can work in the dark," Mr Ewers said.
He had installed the cameras on his hauler carriages as a health and safety initiative so men did not have to work on steep slopes chaining up logs. Using the cameras meant he was still able to meet his production targets.
The weather is also driving increasing forest closures with the public likely to be locked out of most of the region's commercial forests by this weekend.
Public vehicle access to most commercial forests was cut last weekend because of the fire danger and risk to public safety.
Action Forest Management's technical forester Rory Cobb said he would be closing all forms of public access to Tasman Forest Management and Hancock Forests by Friday morning if the fire danger continued to climb.
Story by Helen Murdoch, Nelson Mail © Fairfax NZ News. To read the full story, click here.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8413905/Fire-risk-forces-cuts-to-loggingThe wider forest industry is expected to take a hit with the reduced production hours, although those affected say it is too early to assess the full cost. Less affected are contractors with infra-red cameras on their harvesting machinery, enabling them to work in the dark.
Commercial forests in Hira and Golden Downs moved to code orange yesterday triggering a compulsory noon cutoff for using chainsaws to avoid the risk of fire starting at the hottest time of the day. The code is driven by daily fire risk assessments.

Code orange saw chainsaw operation end at noon, tree extraction at 1pm and skid site processing finish at 3.30 pm.

About 100 millimetres of rain is needed to relieve the fire risk. Forecasters expect rain on Sunday but predict it will quickly diminish to threats of showers in the following few days.

Nelson Management's chief operating officer David Robinson said the forest industry last faced such dry conditions in 2001. 

Moutere Logging's managing director Dale Ewers said installing infra-red cameras on his mechanised tree extraction operations, which hauled felled timber from the bush, meant his crews started pulling wood from 4 am.

"The shorter days have affected our operation but not as much as normal because we can work in the dark," Mr Ewers said.

He had installed the cameras on his hauler carriages as a health and safety initiative so men did not have to work on steep slopes chaining up logs. Using the cameras meant he was still able to meet his production targets.

The weather is also driving increasing forest closures with the public likely to be locked out of most of the region's commercial forests by this weekend.

Public vehicle access to most commercial forests was cut last weekend because of the fire danger and risk to public safety.

Action Forest Management's technical forester Rory Cobb said he would be closing all forms of public access to Tasman Forest Management and Hancock Forests by Friday morning if the fire danger continued to climb.

Story by Helen Murdoch, Nelson Mail © Fairfax NZ News. To read the full story, click here.

 

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