Lee Valley Fire
Updates from Fire and Emergency NZ
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| Credit Photo Fire and Emergency NZ |
Lee Valley Fire Update #9
9/02/2024
We have established the 1.2-kilometre containment line at the Lee Valley fire.
Incident Controller Steve Trigg says the hard work of the crews in tough conditions had paid off.
“We have a satisfactory containment line in and we’ve been able to give residents of evacuated homes restricted access to their properties.
“This is a big step, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us to extinguish this fire.”
Crews will monitor the fire ground overnight, with more firefighters and helicopters back in operation tomorrow as extinguishment work continues.
The investigation is ongoing, however suspicious causes have been eliminated.
With more sunshine and warm weather ahead for the next week, it’s again an important reminder to be vigilant around activities that can generate sparks during this very dry fire season, and that a simple spark can have devastating impacts on people, property and the environment, as well as pets and livestock.
This will be the final update for the day unless significant developments occur. The next update is expected to be mid-morning on Saturday.
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| Latest photo from Fire and Emergency NZ |
Lee Valley Fire Update #8
9/02/2024
Voluntary Firemen and Firewomen inundated with baking from the community
Our focus at the fire today is to complete the 1.2-kilometre containment line required around the perimeter of the fire.
This requires firefighters to work in steep terrain using hand tools to clear a space of vegetation twenty metres wide.
We are aiming to complete the containment line by the end of the day.
Once the containment line is completed we hope to be able to return evacuated residents to their homes either today or tomorrow, opening the road to residents only, with restricted speed limits in place.
We have also been inundated with baking from our community to our local stations. While we very much appreciate the huge wave of support, we've actually got too much food now that our crews won't be able to get through! So please no more baking, but you can show your support by posting messages to the brigades here.
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Fire and Emergency is making steady progress fighting the fire burning in pine forest at Lee Valley and is aiming to have it fully contained by the end of tomorrow, although it will take longer to fully extinguish.
Until the fire is contained, residents who evacuated their homes yesterday will be able to have managed access to their properties, while continuing to stay in alternative accommodation overnight. This will enable them to take care of stock and carry out other essential tasks.
From tomorrow, Fire and Emergency will set up a community hub where residents can come for information and get support any time of day. The location and opening times will be confirmed today.
Once the fire is contained, Fire and Emergency plans to assist residents return to their homes in a restricted capacity, such as lowered speed limits, escorted and resident-only access while fire operations are still underway.
Incident Controller Steve Trigg and District Manager Grant Hayward met residents at a community meeting this afternoon, sharing information about progress on the fireground and the plan for managed access and full return home.
Helicopter and ground operations are continuing, and the fireground has been more accurately mapped – it covers about 9 hectares of pine forestry.
Steve Trigg said conditions for firefighting have been favourable today, with light winds.
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Lee Valley Fire Update #7
Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
8/2/24
Fire and Emergency is making steady progress fighting the fire burning in pine forest at Lee Valley and is aiming to have it fully contained by the end of tomorrow, although it will take longer to fully extinguish.
Until the fire is contained, residents who evacuated their homes yesterday will be able to have managed access to their properties, while continuing to stay in alternative accommodation overnight. This will enable them to take care of stock and carry out other essential tasks.
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| Latest photo from Fire and Emergency NZ |
From tomorrow, Fire and Emergency will set up a community hub where residents can come for information and get support any time of day. The location and opening times will be confirmed today.
Once the fire is contained, Fire and Emergency plans to assist residents return to their homes in a restricted capacity, such as lowered speed limits, escorted and resident-only access while fire operations are still underway.
Incident Controller Steve Trigg and District Manager Grant Hayward met residents at a community meeting this afternoon, sharing information about progress on the fireground and the plan for managed access and full return home.
Helicopter and ground operations are continuing, and the fireground has been more accurately mapped - it covers about 9 hectares of pine forestry.
Steve Trigg said conditions for firefighting have been favourable today, with light winds.
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Lee Valley Fire Update #6
Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
8 February, 2024
Firefighters, helicopters and two heavy machinery operators are continuing their efforts to bring the Lee Valley fire under control.
The fire is burning in pine forestry on steep terrain. It is not yet considered to be contained, but it has not grown in size today and is still estimated at 5 hectares. There is no reported damage to property, aside from the forest itself.
All roadblocks remain in place and people are asked to stay away so emergency services are not delayed in moving in and out of the area.
There will be a meeting for Lee Valley residents at 1pm today in the Wanderers’ Clubrooms, Lord Rutherford Road to update them on the situation and the milestones that will need to be reached in order for the evacuated households to return home.
In the meantime, roadblocks remain in place and people are asked to stay away from the area so firefighters and vehicles can operate safely. Drones must not be flown anywhere near the fireground.
Fire and Emergency is also asking everyone in the Nelson-Tasman area to be aware of the high fire danger and to avoid any activities that could spark a fire. People in rural areas should also have an evacuation plan in case of wildfire.
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Four crews of firefighters and two heavy machinery operators worked through the night at the Lee Valley fire. Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Steve Trigg says two urban crews were tasked with protecting structures while the two rural crews and the excavator operators were making fire breaks and control lines.
The fire is not yet controlled or contained, but there has been no reported damage to property overnight, aside from the forest itself.
Seven helicopters will be back in the air this morning to resume the aerial attack, while the excavators would continue making firebreaks.
Specialist forestry silviculture / firefighting crews would be on the ground, using thermal imaging equipment to identify hotspots and tackling each one with hand tools and hoses. The command unit is also on site and continuously staffed.
All roadblocks remain in place and people are asked to stay away so emergency services are not delayed in moving in and out of the area.
Steve Trigg has also stressed that private drones must not be flown anywhere near the Lee Valley, to avoid helicopters having to be grounded to avoid the risk of a mid-air collision.
Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence advises that the civil defence centre at the Wanderers’ Clubrooms on Lord Rutherford Drive will reopen at 8am.
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| Lee Valley Fire 7 Feb 2024. Photo credit Anne Rimmer. |
Firefighting has paused overnight at Lee Valley, but heavy machinery operators will be working through the night to cut firebreaks.
The fire is not yet contained, but has not increased in size since earlier this evening, when it was estimated to cover 5 hectares of pine forestry in steep terrain.
Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Steve Trigg says that seven helicopters will resume the aerial attack in the morning.
Specialist forest firefighting crews from local forestry companies will also be working on the flanks of the fire to establish control lines, supported by heavy machinery.
Conditions are expected to be favourable for firefighting tomorrow, with light winds from the south west.
All the residents who were evacuated this afternoon are in other accommodation tonight. Fire and Emergency briefed them on the situation tonight, and will update them again in the morning. A few residents were escorted home by police briefly this evening to collect personal possessions.
Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence advises that the civil defence centre at the Wanderers’ Clubrooms on Lord Rutherford Drive has closed overnight and will reopen at 8am.
This will be the last update on the fire tonight.
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Lee Valley Fire Update #3
7 February 2024
All six helicopters fighting the Lee Valley fire have been grounded because of a drone sighted in the area. A seventh helicopter has also been stood down before it reached the fireground.
Police are actively seeking the drone operator.
Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Steve Trigg said drones were a safety risk to aerial firefighting, as a mid-air collision with a drone could have fatal consequences.
"The drone sighting has completely impacted helicopter operations. Firefighting efforts are on hold until the safety of air operations can be assured," Steve Trigg said.
The fire is burning over about 5 hectares of a pine forestry block and is not yet contained. Firefighters are unable to continue the firefight using ground attack while the helicopters are grounded because the terrain is too steep and dangerous.
Eleven houses on River Terrace between the Lee Valley Bridge over the Wairoa River and Mead Road have been evacuated by Police. Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence has opened a civil defence centre for evacuees at the Wanderers’ Clubrooms on Lord Rutherford Drive. Further information on that support is available by calling 035438400.
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Firefighters from nine brigades are responding to the fire in Lee Valley, supported by aerial attack from helicopters with monsoon buckets.
Eleven houses on River Terrace between the Lee Valley Bridge over the Wairoa River and Mead Road have been evacuated by Police. Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence has opened a civil defence centre for evacuees at the Wanderers’ Clubrooms on Lord Rutherford Drive. Further information on that support is available by calling 035438400.
As at 5.30pm the fire is estimated to have covered about three hectares.
We ask people to stay well away from the area so emergency services are not held up by non-essential traffic. Also those with drones must not fly them in the area – when drones are spotted the helicopters have to be grounded for safety reasons.
Lee Valley Fire Update #1
7 February 2024
Fire and Emergency is responding to a significant vegetation fire in the Lee Valley, in the Tasman District.
There are three separate areas of fire, spreading uphill into a pine plantation.
Five helicopters are supporting ground crews.
People in the area are urgently asked to avoid non-essential travel, particularly on Paton Rd, as traffic congestion is delaying some fire trucks from reaching the fire.
Police are assisting with evacuating people from local swimming spots. Road closures are in place.
We will provide a further update when more information is available.
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