Marlborough quick to help out

Watching smoke billow as a bush fire raged below brought back memories of an arson attack for a Blenheim businesswoman.

Cherubs store owner Lynda Butt was one of many people in Marlborough who vowed to help as fire blazed its way through 2300 hectares of Tasman countryside.

The television images of smoke and flames took her back almost 30 years ago to when her husband’s business was destroyed by a deliberately lit blaze.

She and friend Trish Oswald decided to put a post up on Facebook to ask for donations for firefighters and residents caught up in the disaster.

She said the response was ‘‘just unbelievable’’.

‘‘When Trish mentioned we needed to help support the people of Tasman, I did not have to think twice.

‘‘In 1990 my husband’s business was burnt to the ground and I know only too well the devastation it [fire] causes,’’ she said.

Firefighters from across New Zealand battled the 2300ha blaze as Civil Defence staff allowed people back into their Wakefield homes on Monday.

More than 2600 people were evacuated as the fire, believed to have been started by agriculture machinery, took hold.

Butt said people had been very willing to donate.

‘‘Others had the same idea,’’ she said. ‘‘Marlborough, we couldn’t have done this without you and a big thank you goes out to every person who donated so far.’’

Nappies, medicine, food, sunblock and water were just some of the goods destined to make the 149km journey to Wakefield courtesy of Milk & More.

Butt said many business owners had pitched in to help.

‘‘People have also donated several hundreds of dollars worth of petrol vouchers,’’ she said.