State of emergency
Despite a massive blaze that has scorched earth the size of 2000 rugby fields, heroic efforts to quell a fire in Nelson have managed to protect not just life and limb, but property also.
The bush fire has seen about 235 homes evacuated and a state of emergency declared but there have so far been no reported injuries, fatalities or homes lost.
But the saga isn’t over yet, with firefighters continuing the quest to snuff out the fire today, which had ravaged a nearly 20 square-kilometre area, 30km southwest of Nelson.
It was hoped the weather today would assist in its dousing, but that seemed unlikely as forecasts last night suggested early morning cloudy periods, followed by fine weather and light winds. Showers were not expected until Friday.
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) Tasman area commander Grant Haywood said it was possible the fires could flare up again with changing weather conditions.
The weather would dictate how the blaze was approached by fire crews today. Fire crews yesterday were trying to establish a boundary around the fire to contain it from further spread.
Ground crews and 16 helicopters have now been fighting the blaze at Pigeon Valley since 2pm on Tuesday.
By yesterday morning, the fire had more than doubled in size.
Guy Mollett is determined to find the firefighters who worked through the night to protect his home.
The Redwood Valley man said he had a ‘‘pretty sleepless night’’ at a friend’s home after his family were evacuated about 7pm on Tuesday night.
He said the police and fire crews had been ‘‘fantastic’’ and he had heard amazing stories of how firefighters had saved homes in the valley. ‘‘It must have been horrendous for them. I’m determined to find out who they are.’’
A second fire broke out on nearby Rabbit Island yesterday afternoon, putting further pressure on fire and emergency efforts on the mainland.
The second fire ‘‘came out of the blue’’ Haywood said, though there had been enough resources to address it.
West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O’Connor said a flyover yesterday afternoon revealed the size of the affected area.
Firefighters still had work ahead to get it under control and reduce the chance of another flare up.
Nelson Tasman Emergency Management said midday yesterday that the fire had slowed with the lower temperatures and morning moisture.
Tasman district councillor Dean McNamara, who was helping at the evacuation centre in St John’s church at Wakefield, said the fire’s speed was ‘‘quite scary’’.
Many people had arrived with food and offers of accommodation for families who had been evacuated.
A man from Four Square brought in food and other goods, and had also taken goods to the fire station, McNamara said.
Some of the evacuees were keen to find out when they could return home to check on stock.
Police acting district commander Inspector Zane Hooper urged residents to make sure they and their families were safe. ‘‘Be prepared to potentially evacuate and check on your neighbours.’’
People within the fire area should make sure they had access to radio or other mainstream media should evacuation should be required, he said.
Anyone evacuated and those who selfevacuated were asked to record their details with the Civil Defence Centre at St John’s Church in Wakefield.
Several Nelson residents and businesses had taken in families.
The Tasman district has experienced a long dry spell, and the fire risk is extreme.