Home at last for all evacuated residents

Roads into Tasman’s fire-affected valleys are busy with the last remaining evacuated residents returning home for good.

Teapot Valley Christian Camp manager Paul Shutte, who lives at the camp, is a resident of one of the final 83 evacuated properties who was able to return home yesterday after the wildfire that broke out in nearby Pigeon Valley on February 5.

‘‘It is nice to be back in and not have to keep watching the clock and think we have an hour left or whatever it might be.’’

Civil Defence controller Alec Louverdis said after an assessment of conditions with fire and police representatives the last evacuated residents in Teapot, Eves and Redwood valleys were able to return home.

However, residents were reminded the fire was not out and they needed to be ready to leave at short notice if required.

Shutte said he had returned to the camp every day that entry had been permitted in order to keep an eye on things.

While there hadn’t been anyone staying at the camp when the fire first broke out, a group of 120 people had left the day before. Shutte was now waiting to hear from authorities as to when they would be able to have groups back to stay at the camp.

‘‘We’ve lost all of our February bookings, we had someone here every day in February prior to the fire. They have all had to be moved to different times of the year or they have just cancelled.’’

While no damage could be seen from the property, Shutte said the fire got to about 200 metres from its top boundary before the wind changed direction.

‘‘All the fire guys and the helicopter pilots have done a pretty amazing job of protecting our property. Those of us that were in the line of fire are pretty thankful for them.’’

Shutte said he felt it had brought the community together and it meant he had met neighbours he hadn’t known.

‘‘There are always positives in everything and that is just one of them, the big one is that no-one died and there was very minimal property damage.’’

Teapot Valley resident Rachel Lawry said she was also thankful to be home, having spent the past two weeks staying with family.

She self-evacuated from her property on the first day of the fire and when she came home two days later, she could see hotspots flaring up through the forest. When smoke started to close in, the official call came to evacuate.

Lawry stayed nearby with family and could see her property and the fire burning around it.

‘‘Although it was a bit scary to watch, it was better to see what was happening. We could see the flames at the back but that the guys were working hard and it was still safe.’’

She had returned home most days to check her stock were OK and that they had enough water.

‘‘You don’t realise it but you have been in a state of limbo and it is nice today to think, I can get on with things and be home to get back into your normal routine.’’

Lawry said she felt ‘‘really lucky’’ that her property was undamaged by the fire and that she was well-protected thanks to the support of neighbours and emergency response staff.

‘‘The community has been phenomenal, from the donations to the cordons, it’s been lovely.’’