Taranaki pilot tells of Tasman fire devastation
Exploding pine trees, dry conditions and utter devastation is how helicopter pilot Alan Beck describes his view of the massive forest fire raging through about 1600 hectares of the Tasman district.
Beck and his son, David, from Beck Helicopters, near Eltham, are part of the 22-strong pilot crew helping to fight the blaze, which has been burning since Tuesday near Nelson.
As of last night, 182 houses have been evacuated near the fire, affecting about 400 people. A state of emergency has been declared.
At least one house has been lost, with others yet to be confirmed, Civil Defence said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited the area yesterday and pledged an initial $20,000 for the stricken community.
The Becks were called down on the day the fire, which now covers an area four times the size of Auckland’s CBD, broke out.
‘‘It was clear when we arrived that this fire was getting away from us,’’ Beck, said.
‘‘It’s so hot. It’s hot work.’’ The fire is believed to have started in the Pigeon Valley area and now has a perimeter of 23km.
‘‘There’s millions of dollars of devastation,’’ Beck said.
‘‘It’s a colossal disaster for the forestry sector. There’s a lot of mature trees now gone.’’
Beck said getting enough fuel for the choppers was also proving a challenge, as was getting enough water to fill the 1500 litre
scoop attached to the Bell 204 UH1 Iroquois helicopters.
The father-and-son team are part of a crew working long hours in Nelson, and Beck said they were the only two from the North Island.
‘‘Yesterday we were out of bed at 4am, had a debrief at 6.30am and flew until 9pm. By the time we got back to their accommodation and had a meal it was midnight.’’
He said they tried to take breaks and grab some food and drinks when they could.
‘‘It’s very disciplined flying and you just get into a rhythm’’
Beck believed they would be there till at least Wednesday.
He had been top dressing at Tahora, near Whangamomona, when the call for help came.
‘‘When I got the call I had to shoot home, quickly grab a change of clothes and grab some
‘‘It’s very disciplined flying and you just get into a rhythm’’ Pilot Alan Beck
gear,’’ he said.
It wasn’t the first time Beck has been called to help fight a major fire. He was involved with the blaze in Christchurch’s Port Hills in February 2017.
‘‘It’s not as dramatic as the Port Hills as that was heading towards Christchurch but the devastation is huge. The poor investors. It’s all gone.’’
Flying over the blackened hills of the Nelson fires, still smoking and steaming in the midday sun, provides the best view of the vast scale of the devastation.
The perimeter of the fire is said to be 22km but the swathe of burned trees and fields looks endless as our helicopter sweeps over the area.
The fires have lost their flames but are still packing incredible heat as the smoke rises towards the Marlborough Helicopters chopper carrying the Stuff team.
Ash looks almost like a scattering of snow against the black. The view from the sky brings home what the authorities have said about the work put into saving houses. Many of them, full of memories and possessions, clearly came close to destruction.
The houses, that real estate agents would describe as luxury villas providing an ideal lifestyle, sit on a mostly black canvas surrounding each of the dwellings.
Flames would have engulfed the houses but for the efforts of helicopter pilots dumping monsoon buckets of water and firefighters pushing back where they could. Helicopters flying endless relays with monsoon buckets continue to douse trouble spots among the swirling smoke.
The day is getting hotter and the wind is changeable.
An expensive Redwood Valley home sits intact and undamaged beside a levelled structure.
Just above is another home just as lucky.
Several soldiers are on the property pumping water into a pool so the helicopters can swoop in and fill their monsoon buckets. The area is dotted with ponds and dams providing water for the helicopters.
Digger drivers are clearing bush and pine trees to make firebreaks should the wind turn.
The massive fire started on Tuesday afternoon near tinderdry Nelson, and 182 houses have been evacuated, affecting about 400 people.
A state of emergency has been declared in Tasman. At least one house has been lost.
The swathe of burned trees and fields looks endless.