Former Southlanders say the Nelson fire experience is scary, intense and insane as the district continues to battle an out of control blaze, which has stretched about 2000 hectares. While on Friday afternoon a second fire broke out close to the Nelson CBD stretching emergency service resources even further. They decided to gather important documents and other bits and pieces, and headed to a friend's place on the other side of Nelson, away from the fire. While the situation was frightening for people in the Nelson district, Hendry-Blair said there had been something special to emerge from the fire and destruction. Sixteen helicopters were fighting the blaze near Wakefield but some had to be diverted to the second fire as it inched closer to central Nelson.

Source: Stuff February 08, 2019 03:25 UTC