Smoke rises from the bushfire area at Pigeon Valley. Photo: RNZResidents of 14 Pigeon Valley properties evacuated owing to the Tasman fire are now allowed to return home. Pigeon Valley residents have been granted conditional re-entry - meaning they can return home but must be prepared to evacuate again. The access to Pigeon Valley is for residents only and police will be manning checkpoints to enforce this. Civil Defence Controller Roger Ball said residents of the remaining 84 evacuated valley properties can return home for six hours today.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 16, 2019 22:41 UTC