State of anxiety
With no rain in sight for parched Tasman and Nelson, the region is on fire watch.
As fire crews continue to battle the massive fire in the Tasman District, walking tracks, reserves and some freedom camping sites will remain closed. However, some people are ignoring the restrictions, leaving residents on edge.
Noel Gallot and his wife were driving towards Motueka on the Motueka Valley Highway when they spotted a handful of campers parked up at the Mcleans Recreation Area camping site.
The ‘‘do not cross’’ tape barring entry to the site had been broken, although signs warning of ‘‘high fire danger’’ remained.
Gallot and his wife went into the site to tell people they shouldn’t be there.
Most of the campers were understanding, and moved on, but one, a local, refused to budge, Gallot said.
The couple contacted Tasman District Council and the police.
‘‘Everyone in the region is so on edge,’’ Gallot said. ‘‘If the campers don’t care . . . they can just up and go, they don’t have to deal with the consequences if something goes wrong.’’
There had also been reports of fireworks lit in Nelson City.
Principal rural fire officer Ian Reade said the danger of such activities could not be understated.
‘‘Fireworks will start a fire in no time at all, it’s like lighting the fuse to a bomb.
‘‘If people are setting off fireworks and lighting fires, even if they do have a healthy insurance policy, under the Section 91 that’s in place it’s no use to them because they won’t be covered.’’
Section 91 refers to the part of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act enacted under the current state of emergency. The act prohibits any activity that could spark a fire, and includes using machinery or carrying out any activity that could generate a spark.
‘‘If people are still carrying out
‘‘Everyone in the region is so on edge.’’ Noel Gallot
these activities they have to be aware of the consequences,’’ Reade said.
Yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the state of emergency would remain in place for at least another week. However, the danger would remain as long as the dry spell did, Reade said.
‘‘We could be in this situation for several months.’’
However, he acknowledged that industries reliant on using machinery couldn’t suspend their work indefinitely.
‘‘We have got to be very clever about how we can do that. What we will be looking for is how to mitigate the risk that is still there.’’
Fire services would work closely with industries and the community to come up with solutions, he said.
At a meeting at the TDC offices yesterday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand controller Trevor Mitchell warned that the region was ‘‘still under extreme fire risk conditions’’.
‘‘The week is going to get progressively warmer; conditions remain that sparks will easily
ignite.’’ Civil Defence controller Jim Frater reminded residents and workers across Nelson and Tasman of the machinery ban: using any devices where metal meets rock, including lawnmowers and weed eaters.
Tasman District Council mayor Richard Kempthorne said about 500 residents remained outside their homes, with restricted access to their properties. It wasn’t known when they would be able to return. However, Civil Defence teams have begun assessing each of the 200 affected properties.
Acting Tasman district commander Inspector Zane Hooper said police would continue to patrol affected communities and would be ready to assist with any further evacuations.
Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council have announced the dry conditions meant reserves and tracks would remain closed for the foreseeable future.
‘‘The key risk is around the safety of people being caught should a fire break out,’’ said a recent NCC statement. ‘‘With the extremely dry conditions, prevailing winds, slope and nature of the vegetation, a fire would spread uphill extremely quickly, making evacuation very difficult.’’
The annual Nelson Wine and Food Festival planned for Brightwater on Sunday has been cancelled because of fire risks.
The Richmond Rotary Club organisers said there was a heightened risk of a fire at the event, and the event would place demands on already fatigued volunteers and the wider community.
Because the tickets were nonrefundable, proceeds of ticket sales would go to the Nelson Tasman Hospice, organisers said.