Region in state of anxiety

With no rain in sight for parched Tasman and Nelson, the region is on fire watch.

As crews continue to battle the massive fire in the Tasman District, walking tracks, reserves and some freedom camping sites will remain closed. However, some people are ignoring the restrictions, leaving residents on edge.

Noel Gallot and his wife spotted a handful of campers parked up at the Mcleans Recreation Area camping site.

The ‘‘do not cross’’ tape barring entry to the site had been broken, although signs warning of ‘‘high fire danger’’ remained.

Gallot and his wife went into the site to tell people they shouldn’t be there.

Most of the campers were understanding, and moved on, but one, a local, refused to budge, Gallot said.

The couple contacted Tasman District Council and the police.

‘‘Everyone in the region is so on edge,’’ Gallot said. ‘‘If the campers don’t care . . . they can just up and go, they don’t have to deal with the consequences if something goes wrong.’’

There had also been reports of fireworks lit in Nelson City.

Principal rural fire officer Ian Reade said the danger of such activities could not be understated.

‘‘Fireworks will start a fire in no time at all, it’s like lighting the fuse to a bomb.

‘‘If people are setting off fireworks and lighting fires, even if they do have a A slow trickle of people made their way into Cafe Rhubarbe in Wakefield yesterday morning.

As the day wore on, locals gradually replaced the steady flow of Defence Force personnel, firefighters and police who stopped by the eatery when it reopened, as usual, at 8.30am.

By early afternoon, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in any other sleepy community.

Until you hear the conversations. ‘‘On Friday I was in my office,’’ joint owner of Tall Poppy real estate in Wakefield, Wendy Pearson, said.

‘‘It was really spooky . . . I was watching everybody leaving, there was ash falling like snow.’’

Pearson was still in the village at 4pm on Friday, waiting on her elderly father, who was reluctant to go.

‘‘There were charred pine needles

healthy insurance policy, under the [law] it’s no use to them because they won’t be covered.’’

Section 91 refers to the part of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act enacted under the current state of emergency. The act prohibits any activity that could spark a fire, and includes using machinery or carrying out any activity that could generate a spark.

‘‘If people are still carrying out these activities they have to be aware of the all over the sidewalk. It was really disconcerting, it was quite quiet by then.’’

When police knocked on her dad’s door a short time later, they finally left for her house in Richmond.

‘‘It’s been really emotional, I’ve been finding it hard to focus on my life outside of Wakefield,’’ she said as the office re-opened yesterday.

‘‘I’ve still got a lump in my gut, it’s affecting so many people who are holding up well, but it’s been a terrible shock for the community.

‘‘Every time I hear a siren, I’m wondering what’s that about.’’

Phil Bell was counting up his losses. ‘‘The wastage is huge . . . thank God for insurance,’’ the Four Square owner said as he went through food that had been on shelves since police came knocking on Friday.

consequences,’’ Reade said.

Yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the state of emergency would remain in place for at least another week. However, the danger would remain as long as the dry spell did, Reade said.

‘‘We could be in this situation for several months.’’

However, he acknowledged that industries reliant on using machinery couldn’t suspend their work indefinitely.