Nelson bush fire: Residents grabbed car, cash, photos and ran from fire's path

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Roger Harman wanted to stay a while, but his wife Linda had the final word.

Shortly before 9pm, Roger and his neighbours were standing at the bottom of their street, Redwood Valley Road. Most of the residents had been evacuated, and the long road leading into the valley, directly towards the fire, was filled with smoke.

'What can you do?' said Roger Harman, who left his home with wife Linda.

Roger's wife, Linda, had convinced him to leave. 'I was happy to wait a bit longer, but Linda wanted to go.'

The couple took their vehicles, some photos and paperwork and a bit of cash.

**READ MORE:

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Residents living on Redwood Valley Road were evacuated on Tuesday evening.

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Even if Linda had a change of heart, there was no going back.

'They won't let us go back up there now,' Roger said.

'I was hoping to go back and get a couple of bottles of wine.'

The fire raged all night as fire crews battled to contain it.

They'd left their cat and some sheep behind.

'But what can you do? I've never been in a situation like this before.'

The couple were heading to Redwood Valley Hall, where they were parking their campervan, along with some neighbours.

Other residents were stood by the intersection of Redwood Valley Road and Moutere Highway. Like the Harmans, they gazed up the road towards the homes they could no longer see through the smoke.

'We're waiting for for everyone to come out,' one woman said anxiously.

'Family, horses, pets.'

'Husbands,' the woman beside her adds. They both laugh.

An Eves Valley resident is holding out hope his house is still standing after a massive fire sent him fleeing his home.

The Eves Valley Rd resident, who did not want to named, was told to evacuate his home on Tuesday when police officers arrived at his 50 acre property.

The Pigeon Valley fire could be seen from all around the region, including Riwaka where this photo was taken around 8.15pm.

'Where I live is directly in the path of where the fire was traveling so they made the call to get everyone out well in advance.'

The resident only had time to lock his door and leave, unable to check on his cattle.

'What do you do? The police officers there taking you away, what do you do? You're going, that's how it goes, you're just off the property.'

By midnight the area where his house stood was 'just an orange glow'.

'You just hope like hell you've still got a house.'

By Wednesday morning, as fire crews continued to fight the blaze, which was covering an area of more than 1800 hectares, there were unconfirmed reports of several homes destroyed in Eves Valley and Redwood Valley, the location of the Harmans' home. More than 100 homes had been evacuated and a state of emergency had been declared.

The fire began in Pigeon Valley at about 2pm on Tuesday. It was quickly attended by fire crews from all around the region, as well as six helicopter crews who left as darkness fell.

Emergency services are advising people to be vigilant and prepare for possible evacuation.