Nelson bush fire: Timelapse video shows terrifying progress of blaze near Wakefield
Friday, 8 February 2019
Timelapse video taken by a resident of Wakefield, near Nelson shows the terrifying speed with which a bush fire in surrounding hills took hold.
The video, taken by Liam Richards between 7pm and 9.30pm on Thursday, shows smoke billowing from the hills and thickening as the daylight fades, before flames break out over a large area after dark.
Wakefield, a village about 25 kilometres south-west of Nelson, has an estimated population of 3000. On Thursday, Wakefield residents were told to prepare to evacuate as a bush fire ravaging the Nelson area continued to spread. Schools in Wakefield were closed on Friday.
Police asked residents in the wider Wakefield area to keep their phones on for alerts, bring pets inside, dampen dry areas on their properties, gather their belongings and check on neighbours.
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The massive forest fire began burning near tinder-dry Nelson on Tuesday. It flared up again on Thursday as a result of northwesterly gusts. The fire was thought to have expanded on Thursday night to cover an area of about 2000 hectares.
It's 'almost certain' the fire was caused by agriculture machinery, FENZ regional manager rural John Sutton has said.
A second fire, which started on Rabbit Island on Wednesday, was deemed suspicious. It has been contained.
At least one house near Nelson has been lost, with others yet to be confirmed, and 182 houses have been evacuated.
A Civil Defence Centre has been opened for evacuees in Wakefield. It's at St Johns Anglican church in Edwards Street. People who self-evacuate are asked to contact Civil Defence on 03 543 8400.