Hamiltonians are being asked for their thoughts on a proposed bylaw which aims to reduce fire risk in the city.

The Open Air Burning Bylaw will allow fire fighters to extinguish fires that are causing a nuisance through smoke, ash or smell.

It will also allow the council to put a fire ban in place, Hamilton is the only city in New Zealand unable to declare a fire ban.

Waikato Fire Chief Roy Breeze is welcoming the bylaw.

He says there's a fuzzy line between nuisance and dangerous fires, so this will allow them to extinguish both.