page_title: 2019 Nelson fires
hierarchical_section_title: 2019 Nelson fires
caption_attribution_description: English: Map showing the location of Pigeon Valley in the Nelson-Tasman region in New Zealand
context_page_description: The 2019 Nelson Fires were a series of wildfires in Nelson and Tasman District, New Zealand. They consisted of the main Pigeon Valley Fire, which grew to be the largest wildfire in New Zealand history, and three smaller fires.
  On the afternoon of February 5th 2019, the Pigeon Valley Fire started following a spark caused by farming equipment. It grew rapidly and began threatening to overwhelm the nearby town of Wakefield forcing a major evacuation of its three thousand residents
  .
  Several other smaller fires started several weeks after the main fires. Two people faced charges of arson in connection with at least one of these. The large main fire were declared "controlled" on 6 March 2019. As of 8 July 2019 the Pigeon Valley fire was said to be "well and truly under control", but probably continuing to smolder in areas, having been left to burn itself out.
context_section_description: The 2019 Nelson Fires were a series of wildfires in Nelson and Tasman District, New Zealand. They consisted of the main Pigeon Valley Fire, which grew to be the largest wildfire in New Zealand history,  and three smaller fires.
  On the afternoon of February 5th 2019, the Pigeon Valley Fire started following a spark caused by farming equipment. It grew rapidly and began threatening to overwhelm the nearby town of Wakefield forcing a major evacuation of its three thousand residents
  .
  Several other smaller fires started several weeks after the main fires. Two people faced charges of arson in connection with at least one of these. The large main fire were declared "controlled" on 6 March 2019. As of 8 July 2019 the Pigeon Valley fire was said to be "well and truly under control", but probably continuing to smolder in areas, having been left to burn itself out.
caption: Map showing the location of Pigeon Valley in red, nearby Wakefield
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