The 2019 Nelson Fires were a series of wildfires in Nelson and Tasman District, New Zealand. They consisted of the main Pigeon Valley Fire, which grew to be the largest wildfire in New Zealand history, and three smaller fires. On the afternoon of February 5th 2019, the Pigeon Valley Fire started following a spark caused by farming equipment. It grew rapidly and began threatening to overwhelm the nearby town of Wakefield forcing a major evacuation of its three thousand residents Several other smaller fires started several weeks after the main fires. Two people faced charges of arson in connection with at least one of these. The large main fire were declared "controlled" on 6 March 2019. As of 8 July 2019 the Pigeon Valley fire was said to be "well and truly under control", but probably continuing to smolder in areas, having been left to burn itself out.
History
On 6 February 2019, a state of emergency was declared in the Nelson-Tasman region due to the fire in Pigeon Valley. By 9 February 2019, the Pigeon Valley fire was being described as the country's largest since 1955. Also, with 22 helicopters involved, it is New Zealand's largest aerial firefight on record. The fire caused 3,000 people to evacuate their homes and destroyed one house. On 17 February 2019, a helicopter crashed while fighting the fire in Tasman district, injuring the pilot. The state of emergency declared on 6 February was extended for another seven days on 19 February. The final group of about 230 residents evacuated from the Pigeon Valley fire near Nelson were permitted to return to their homes on 21 February. The fire was not completely out and their return was on the understanding that they might be required to leave again at short notice. On 27 February 2019, a few hours after the state of emergency lapsed, a new fire started at Redwood Valley, outside the boundaries of the existing fire. It covered 5 hectares in area and forced the evacuations of about 97 residents. Firefighters managed to contain it despite strong gusting winds. The initial large fire was attributed to sparks from farm machinery, and there was speculation that the Redwood Valley fire and two other small ones at Rabbit Island and Walter's Bluff were the work of an arsonist. With the state of emergency lifted, work was continuing on 28 February to put out the fire completely, which it was feared might take weeks or months with conditions "bone dry". On 6 March 2019, Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Group posted a notification that the Pigeon Valley fire was "controlled" and residents were no longer required to be ready to evacuate. The emergency management group defined a controlled fire as "one that is extinguished around the perimeter and is not moving... a 100 metre cold zone."
Arson charges
A man and a woman appeared in Nelson District Court on 7 March 2019 charged with arson. Several days earlier, forestry workers had seen their car driving away from an area on Dovedale Hill near Nelson and found a fire had broken out. They radioed colleagues who prevented the car from leaving the area and managed to put the fire out. The man faced a second charge over the fire that started near the summit of the Moutere Highway the previous week, which resulted in 97 homes being evacuated.
Inquiry
A report by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council, released on 30 October 2019, recommended a nationally consistent framework for tactical fire planning, and a list of 12 recommendations.
On 6 February, HUHA founder Carolyn Press-McKenzie arrived in Nelson to setup an animal welfare shelter at Richmond Showground. By the 8th of February the temporary animal shelter was able to hold 956 animals, providing for companion animals, stock and injured wildlife amid growing public concern over animals trapped behind fire cordons Huha was joined by groups of volunteers, veterinarians and specialist organisations under the Ministry of Primary Industries at the shelter, including SPCA's VERT team, the national rescue team, Federated Farmers, Animal Evac NZ and others. MPI, as the lead agency for animal welfare in disasters in New Zealand, also provided a team of vets and animal officers who carried out animal welfare checks. A 16 person animal disaster response team were deployed by non-profit organisation, Animal Evac New Zealand on 9 February 2019 to the Richmond showground. The team included vet nurses, animal management officers and former SPCA inspectors as well as animal disaster and rescue experts and assisted MPI in recording the location of at risk companion animals and supporting owners at the Saxton welfare centre. Limited initial farm rescues were also carried out at the request of local farmers and with permission of MPI and the New Zealand Police Animal casualties included 40 plus sheep which were euthanised after being unable to escape from a fenced enclosure during the fire and badly burnt Volunteer organisations received widespread praise for their response from government agencies involved and the local residents.
