Bushfire sparks fireworks concern
Police are investigating a fire that burnt through more than three hectares of bush in Nelson, prompting an evacuation warning and concerns about continued use of fireworks.
About 30 firefighters battled the blaze on steep terrain in the Maitai Valley, about six kilometres south east of the city centre, overnight on Friday.
Police advised residents ‘‘to be prepared should they need to evacuate at short notice’’.
The blaze burned through about 3.5 hectares before it was contained by about 1.30am on Saturday. Crews monitored the site for potential flare-ups throughout Saturday and a three-member crew made checks overnight before leaving yesterday morning.
The police are treating the blaze as suspicious.
‘‘There were initial reports of possible fireworks involved,’’ said Senior Sergeant Stu Koefoed from the Tasman District Command Centre.
Fire crews were alerted to the blaze by members of the public who said they thought the fire had been started by fireworks, southern fire communications shift manager Riwai Grace said.
A comment on social media claimed some people had been shooting fireworks from a car window in the area earlier in the evening.
Rural fire officer Ian Reade said while the cause had not yet been confirmed, the use of any firewroks in bush or forestry land like the Maitai was ill-advised.
‘‘Going into the summer and from now on, they need to leave them until next Guy Fawkes or the winter months – there’s really no place for letting off fireworks, particularly in areas where there’s scrub and dry grass – none at all.
‘‘When people are playing with fireworks like that they may not realise the lives and property they’re putting at risk with that kind of behaviour.’’
Fire crews were called to the scene at 9.35pm on Friday and found the blaze covering 200 square metres in difficult terrain and fanned by strong winds.
Fire crews from Appleby, Hira, Tasman and Brightwater attended, along with staff and volunteers from Nelson Station.
Reade said firefighters pumped water from the Maitai River.
‘‘It was a very steep hill, with the only access from the bottom. Obviously quite a narrow road leading into the bottom of it, and the wind was gusty, blowing down valley.
‘‘The fire by that time was a couple of hundred metres up the hill. We ran a hose line up each flank of the fire. To their credit, our crews worked their way up and they pinched it out at the top.’’
The fire took hold about 2.4 kilometres past the Maitai Valley motor camp, the Nelson City Council said.
A precautionary evacuation team was established by Civil Defence, with police knocking on doors from the Maitai camp up to the dam.
Residents were asked to be prepared should they need to evacuate quickly.
Reade said if the fire had kept burning through to the heat of the day ‘‘it would have got a steam up, whereas (Friday) night with the cooler conditions and the higher humidity the fire isn’t as aggressive.’’
Members of the NZRT2 urban search and rescue team told Maitai residents on Saturday afternoon that they could resume normal activities.
Fire service investigators returned to the the scene yesterday.
Anyone with information is urged to call Nelson police on 03 546 3840 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.