One of the down sides of a long hot golden summer is the
increased fire risk that hot dry and sunny conditions creates.
The recent series of wild fires around Canterbury and
Marlborough will have many property owners reaching for their
insurance policies to see whether they are covered for the costs of
fighting fires in the rural environment.
The costs of fighting rural fires can be huge – without
including loss of property and production and the risk to human and
animal lives. The costs of fighting the recent fire in Marlborough
has been estimated at over $1 million.
So who pays?
Under the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, rural landowners can
be held to be responsible for the costs of fighting fires on their
properties in addition to the costs of any damage caused as a
result of the fire.
