Nelson Fires

[beetle]

I know we have some peeps down there, is anyone affected yet ?

Hope you all safe ...........

[piroska]

Napier (a hill) was on fire the other day, out now. Nelson is worse, but at least it's not right IN Nelson, more houses have been evacuated according to Stuff a few minutes ago......

[gary67]

Its a bad one 10 choppers are working on it. Saw a couple fly over us on their way north last night

[WalOne]

Its a bad one 10 choppers are working on it. Saw a couple fly over us on their way north last night

Aren't you ex Nelson Gary?

[gary67]

Yes I am , most people I know up there are either fighting the fire, evacuated, waiting to see if they will be evacuated or watching nervously from afar.

A second fire has started on Rabbit Island, this can't be a jump from the main fore as its too far for that to happen. They think a farm contractor started the main fire with a disc harrow.

Prefect is also ex the area but has been gone a very long time.

[gary67]

It is still ongoing, but looks like they more or less have most of it under control/ Only one property lost so far. The fire crews are doing an amazing job.

[piroska]

Prefect is also ex the area but has been gone a very long time.

Ditto.
I grew up in Nelson, specifically Tahunanui.

Roamed Rabbit Island often.

[wratterus]

Yep, she's pretty bad, although the weather yesterday was good - cold and only light north/north easterly winds for most of the day. Today is much of the same by the look of it. They had 14 choppers and 2 planes on it yesterday. A lot of the area isn't easily accessible by road, even around the perimeter of the fire, so I guess that makes it a bit more difficult.

I know a few people who have been evacuated, and have lost forest/farmland but so far I think only one house has been majorly damaged, although we've been hearing conflicting reports on that - I think the difference between a farm building being damaged and an actual house doesn't quite filter through accurately by the time we read it on the news.

We had a look from the Moutere Hill around 7pm, and it was well back over the ridge down into Eves valley area, by 10pm it was over the redwood valley ridge and coming down into that valley - the wind was really ripping from the south west and it was very hot - had been around 30deg most of the day - if those same conditions had kept up for another day I'm 100% sure things would be much, much worse than they are.

[wratterus]

Today they have 22 choppers and the two planes, and one confirmed "lost dwelling".

[Woody]

Thanks for all concern guys.
I'm in Atawhai - northern suburb of Nelson - been here from ChCh. since 1970
Although fire is in western hills I have good view across the bay from here. Spectacular at night. Just had another large flare up - 4:30.
Fire, Police, DOC, Choppers & locals doing amazing job. Fingers crossed