Better planning for the management of cordons, animal welfare and resources are some of the key recommendations in a review of the Pigeon Valley fire response. However, the review of the blaze that started in Pigeon Valley, about 30km south-west of Nelson, on February 5, also suggested improvements. MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF Takaka volunteer firefighters Callum Reid, left, and Grant Lawrence are exhausted at the end of their shift in the first week of the blaze that started in Pigeon Valley on February 5. The Pigeon Valley fire saw a state of emergency declared the day after it started, on February 6, which was in place for three weeks. DAWN GAUL/SUPPLIED The start of the Pigeon Valley fire.

Source: Stuff December 18, 2019 03:00 UTC