The burn off season was underway in the Queenstown Lakes District high country but residents were reminded that all fires required a permit, Queenstown Lakes District Council principal rural fire officer Gordon Bailey said.

"The high country burn-offs generally are controlled, have a resource consent, a permit and a fire plan but unfortunately the season can spell free-for-all for some residents," Mr Bailey said.

Any fire in the district, whether it was in a township or settlement, in the rural area or on or within a kilometre of Department of Conservation land, needed a permit.

With the adoption last week of the Rural Fire Plan by full council, it was timely to signal a hard line on anyone burning without a permit.

"Not only will people find themselves with a sizeable fine but they will also pay suppression costs, which can seriously mount up," Mr Bailey said.

Although spring was traditionally considered a good time for burns, the vegetation was actually surprisingly dry this year, due to frost burn.

"We have dealt with a number of non-permitted fires in the last few months, some of which have gotten out of control," Mr Bailey said.