A massive smoke cloud seen from the Tasman bush fire near Pigeon Valley, Nelson. Photo: NZ HeraldGround crews will work through the night in the fight against the huge Tasman blaze after a day in which some Nelson residents were evacuated after a second fire broke out. O'Connor said the focus remains on getting the blaze under control, cleaning up the immediate damage, and then supporting the rural sector to recover for winter. The Herald revealed on Wednesday that a contractor ploughing a tinder-dry field up Pigeon Valley was suspected to have sparked the blaze. Rabbit Island fire 'suspicious'Officials believe the second Nelson blaze at Rabbit Island was being treated as suspicious.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 07, 2019 18:23 UTC