Helping over the hill

Marlborough’s air force base has sent more than 70 people over the hill to battle Nelson’s bush fire as it continues to burn.

Three of the base’s firefighters drove a rural unimog fire appliance over from Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Woodbourne, near Blenheim, on Wednesday evening.

They were joined by 20 personnel called over to help with the cordons and evacuations on Wednesday, and an extra 50 people travelled over on Thursday.

Base Woodbourne chief of staff Squadron Leader Pete Jackson said most of the personnel were from Base Woodbourne, as Nelson Tasman came under their emergency jurisdiction.

‘‘They are assisting with evacuations, they will be going door to door advising people they need to pack their bags.’’

A Hercules brought in extra air force personnel, Fire and Emergency New Zealand staff and police from Wellington on Wednesday.

The Woodbourne fire crew had barely got back from the Waihopai Valley forest fire, which started last Monday, when the call came for support in Nelson, Jackson said.

‘‘We basically just swapped the crew over, filled the truck with gas and water, and they went over,’’ Jackson said.

‘‘We’re now seeking more support from the other bases ... there are a lot of displaced people and we were looking at how to feed the firefighters, but now they’re evacuating Wakefield we will have to look at feeding them as well.