New Zealand: Firefighters continue to fight Nelson blaze February 11 /update 2

Event

Firefighting crews continue containment efforts for the Nelson-Tasman wildfire as of Monday, February 11. The wildfire, which started Tuesday, February 5, has burned some 2300 hectares (5700 acres), forcing the evacuation of at least 3000 people. Evacuation orders remain in effect for areas to the west of Nelson and south of Rabbit Island. Firefighting efforts are expected to continue in the coming days. Further spread of the fire, along with associated transportation disruptions and further evacuation orders, cannot be ruled out.

Context

The Nelson fire began near Pigeon Valley (Tasman district) around 14:00 on Tuesday, with local officials declaring a state of emergency on Wednesday, February 6. The region has seen minimal rain since October 2018.

Advice

Individuals present in the area are advised to keep abreast of warnings and adhere to any instructions issued by local authorities, notably evacuation orders.