More forced to flee flames as fire rages back to life
Another 26 households were forced to flee their homes last night as northwesterly winds fanned the flames of Nelson’s massive forest fire.
Some 400 people have been evacuated from 182 homes – one of which has been destroyed – since the fire began on Tuesday.
It was ‘‘almost certainly’’ sparked by agricultural machinery and accelerated once it reached hillside forest plantations, where trees worth an estimated $1 million to $2m have been destroyed.
The fire had been contained to about 1600 hectares before flaring up in Teapot Valley about 4.30pm yesterday. A fleet of 22 helicopters and two fixed-wing planes were last night attempting to bring it back under control.
The plan last night was also to create fire breaks on the perimeter using five bulldozers, four excavators, and three tankers to suppress any active
fire within 10 metres to 30m of the perimeter from spreading.
Teapot Valley resident Dorje Strang and his family had evacuated one property, moving to another 300m away with a view over the valley. On Wednesday evening he said the fire looked under control. ‘‘It’s completely out of control now,’’ he said last night. ‘‘Teapot Valley is gone.’’
The fire struck as Nelson simmered under 15 days of ‘‘very high’’ or ‘‘extreme forest fire danger’’, with a recent heatwave contributing.
Householders gathered at the edge of the fire cordon, hoping for a chance to visit properties and check livestock.
Pigeon Valley Rd resident James Spencer was yesterday on his fourth visit to the cordon since he was evacuated on Tuesday night.
He estimated his house was about 800m from where the fire started.
He had gone through the cordon twice on Wednesday and again yesterday, ‘‘just for half an hour, to check stock’’.
Pigeon Valley Rd resident Alison White said her fences had been cut for a fire break and she feared for her stock, which included chickens, sheep and dairy cows.
‘‘I look at that and think, ‘I’ve got 20 minutes, what’s the most important job? How can I make this work?’’’
The fires had torn through much of her family’s hillside forestry block. ‘‘When you see the damage, you just feel sorry for those that have put all the work and effort in.’’
Earlier, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited armed with chocolates and an initial $20,000 top-up for the Tasman District Council’s Mayoral Relief Fund. Ardern said she was ‘‘immensely relieved’’ no-one had died. Another morale boost came from Christchurch singing sensation Marlon Williams, who offered free tickets for firefighters, volunteers, and Civil Defence workers to his concert in Upper Moutere tonight.