Trio of skip fires in central Nelson

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging business owners to lock up their rubbish skips after three bin blazes in central Nelson.

The fires, between about 7.45pm and 10.35pm in skips in or near Halifax and Bridge streets on Thursday, all occurred when the businesses were closed. A police spokeswoman said police were notified of the fires. Officers would be making inquiries and working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz), she said.

Fenz national manager of community readiness and recovery Steve Turek said there were easy ways to avoid potentially destructive fires such as those in the Nelson skips.

‘‘We recommend businesses, especially those in highly visible areas, should lockdown their skips with padlocks, keep them away from buildings and, if possible, fenced off from the public,’’ Turek said.

‘‘Skips are often filled with cardboard, paper and other flammable material.

‘‘It does not take much for a small fire to become a large one.’’

The mobility of skips could also increase fire risks. ‘‘They generally have wheels, so can easily be pushed up against a wall, and a fire limited to a contained area can spread to a building,’’ Turek said.

He recommended security lighting around commercial properties.

‘‘Having a well-lit area can deter anti-social behaviour like lighting fires.’’

As well as the trio of skip blazes, Nelson firefighters extinguished a bonfire on Ta¯hunanui Beach just after midnight.