Getting the logistics right

Swimming pools and delivered cupcakes are two small but nonetheless important parts of a massive effort to put out the bush fire in Nelson.

As a dozen ground crews battle the blaze, as many as 14 choppers were in the air at any one time, helping with the effort.

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) regional manager rural John Sutton said each of those helicopters dump between 30 and 50 monsoon bucket-loads of water a day.

Each bucket can hold between 400 to 1000 litres of water. That means somewhere between 168,000 and 800,000 litres of water each day. Sutton said it was fortunate there was a lot of water in the area, and he had even seen a monsoon bucket ‘‘dipping’’ into a local swimming pool to fill up.

He said there were three stages of rural fire – ‘‘initial attack’’, which could be dealt with by a local crew, ‘‘extended attack’’, requiring neighbouring resources, and a ‘‘campaign fire’’. ‘‘That’s what we’re into now.’’

Firefighters were mainly from the local area, but some had come from the West Coast and North Canterbury. ‘‘As this fire carries on, we will have to draw on firefighters from elsewhere – if they’re available.’’

FENZ’s logistics team organised flights, accommodation and meals for crew that are brought in. Firefighters mostly stayed in motels, and various caterers supplied food, such as bagged lunches.

There was help from St John, Police, MPI – ‘‘because of the risk to animals’’ – the Defence Force, the Red Cross, and DOC.

There was a small but impactful crew from the airforce, and the army was on its way. The community was mucking in too. ‘‘Two young girls were giving away cupcakes. It’s that kind of thing.’’