https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/10/new-zealand-wildfires-set-to-worsen-as-thousands-flee
New Zealand wildfires set to worsen as thousands flee
Week-long blaze engulfs 2,300ha on South Island, leading to largest aerial firefight in country’s history
Reuters
Sun 10 Feb 2019 06.45 GMT Last modified on Sun 10 Feb 2019 20.25 GMT
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A firefighter puts out a blaze during a week-long wildfire on New Zealand’s South Island. Photograph: Reuters
Strong winds are expected to fan forest fires that have been burning for a week through New Zealand’s South Island, forcing thousands of people from their homes.
Early on Sunday, 155 firefighters were battling the blaze on the ground with air support from 23 helicopters and three fixed wing planes, making it the largest aerial firefight on record in New Zealand.
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A helicopters dumps water on a fire near Nelson, New Zealand. Photograph: Evan Barnes
Up to 3,000 people have been forced to leave the Wakefield and Pigeon Valley areas, the civil defence controller, Roger Ball, told a news conference on Saturday. More people were likely to be forced from their homes on Sunday.
The Pigeon Valley fire covers 2,300 hectares (5,700 acres) with a 25 km (15 mile) perimeter, NZ Civil Defence said on its website. No deaths have been reported and only one home destroyed as of Sunday.
“There is some concern about predicted high winds this afternoon, which are expected to test the control lines,” the agency said.
The New Zealand Red Cross communications manager Ellie van Baaren said evacuees were tired and frustrated.
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“When you have to leave your home and in some cases your livestock and animals and you don’t know what’s become of them, and you’re staying with friends and family, then it’s an uncertain situation for everybody,” she said.
Much of the affected area south of Nelson was used for forestry but it also has many small farms. Some livestock has also been moved to safety.
Fires started on Monday and Tuesday and quickly spread. On Wednesday, authorities declared a state of emergency.
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New Zealand wildfire: Thousands of people evacuated near Nelson
- 10 February 2019
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Media captionNew Zealand wildfire: Residents flee as fire spreads
Thousands of people have been evacuated from a New Zealand town as firefighters battle a wildfire stoked by winds in the country's South Island.
The blaze, which began six days ago near the city of Nelson, is now threatening the town of Wakefield.
A state of emergency has been declared and about 3,000 people have fled their homes in the district of Tasman.
Strong winds were expected, and officials warned that Sunday could be a "critical danger point" for the fire.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she hoped "the weather plays ball".
The blaze is thought to be the worst forest fire in New Zealand since 1955.
Nelson MP Nick Smith said the entire region was a "tinderbox" and its 70,000 residents were "on edge."
Twenty-three helicopters and two planes have been deployed to tackle the blaze. Rain forecast for the area on Tuesday is expected to miss the fire zone.
Fires of this size are unusual for New Zealand, with local media calling it the worst bushfire in 50 years.
