While firefighters continue to work on hot spots around the Nelson region, fourteen residents of Pigeon Valley have been allowed to return to their homes under caution. The remaining evacuees, about eighty houses, are allowed to go home between 8am and 2pm each day, but that depends on the wind. If the wind is strong, and blowing towards their houses, they cannot return home.
Yesterday one of the helicopters carrying monsoon buckets crashed in the Eves Valley area. The pilot jettisoned the monsoon bucket when he knew he was in trouble and made a hard landing near the road. He was injured, but not badly.
There hasn’t been any rain for some time, and fire bans are in place for most of New Zealand. If you want to light fire outside, you should check with the fire service first. Even in your garden, a barbecue that uses fire may not be permitted, but a gas barbecue is okay. The fire service’s website is checkitsalright.nz. On this website, you can find out the fire regulations for your area.
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