There’s nothing better than a warm hearth in winter. Here’s how to play it fire safe.

Several huts have burned down over the years, including Siberia Hut (2011), Casey Hut (2015) and Lake Dive Hut (2020).

DOC has published a hut-users’ code for taking care of wood burners: most importantly, keep the fire contained and never leave it unattended.

• Consider taking newspaper or firelighters to start the fire. Do not use pages from the hut book.
• Burn only dead, dry wood. This does not include foil meal packets or banana skins. If you carried it in, carry it out.
• Dry wet clothing a safe distance from the wood burner.
• Leave the ash in the firebox. It may still be warm and could be a fire hazard (Hope Arm Hut in Fiordland nearly burnt down in 2016 after hot ash was discarded too close to the building). When first at a hut, clean out the cold ash before lighting the fire.
• Use wood sparingly and replace any used for the next visitors.
• Use your cooker on a metal bench, not a wooden table