Many people enjoy a fire in their backyards from time to time, but nobody wants them to get out of control and burn property, or escape into the bush and destroy New Zealand's beautiful environment.

So this week, Thames Coromandel District Council is adopting new regulations around open fires in the Coromandel's urban areas.

Humanity has always known fire as a double-edges sword. File Photo.

The Fires in the Open bylaw sets out rules for the protection of people, property, and the environment, which also acknowledge the natural desire to light fires for cooking, heating and amenity purposes, says TCDC community environment manager Barry Smedts.

'The main message of the bylaw is ‘be fire safe'; always do a safety check, and talk to any neighbours who might be affected before you light any type of outdoor fire.

'If you can't control it, don't light it.”

The new bylaw includes some familiar clauses – such as the allowance for TCDC to set fire seasons, in order to minimise fire risk – which locals will recall from older regulations, but the new rules also apply to urban areas.

Maps of the affected locales are available on the TCDC website.

TCDC urges firebugs to ensure that:

• Fires in the open are supervised at all times.

• There is an adequate means of fire suppression available at all times - like a pressured water supply or a fire extinguisher.

• The fire is totally extinguished when you are finished.

The following fires are allowed under the new rules:

• Fireworks: these are a fire in the open but don't require a permit. Only light them if you are sure they will not cause a danger to people or property or the environment, will not go out of control, will not cause a smoke or noise nuisance, and not be a hazard to traffic. Be a good neighbour.

• Compliant fire devices: these are permanent structures such as pizza ovens, outdoor fireplaces, and incinerators that have a chimney with a spark arrestor and a door, lid, or grill over the fire box.

• Fires with a permit.

• Gas barbeques, cookers and heaters.

These urban fires need a permit:

• Big, organised fireworks or pyrotechnic displays.

• What TCDC calls cultural cooking fires: hangi, umu, fire pit, or other solid-fuel outdoor fire used for preparing food using traditional cooking methods.

• Other types of fires, such as bonfires.

Permits can be filled in on TCDC's website – search ‘online permit for fires in urban areas' – or call TCDC customer service on 07 868 0200, or email customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz

If you see an out-of-control fire, call the NZ Fire Service on 111.