A strong warning from rural fire fighters for New Years revelers in Marlborough this year.

The region's fire risk is at an all year high with drought conditions steadily getting worse.

The lack of rainfall and hot temperatures have turned the already fire-prone region tinder dry.

In the last two months fire crews have already battled two massive forestry fires.

Principal Rural Fire Officer Richard McNamara said conditions couldn't be much worse.

"Conditions are slowly deteriorating, particularly for rural farmers in particular. Things are drying out very fast, we're into a summer drought now and it also means heightened fire risk."

McNamara warned irresponsible behaviour tonight could be the tipping point.

"We're urging people to take care, don't light a fire you can't control - there is a total fire ban south of Wairau so you can't light fires in the open, and we urge people to take extreme care with fireworks."