2019 Nelson fires
The Pigeon Valley Fire was a wildfire in the Tasman District that rapidly grew to become the largest wildfire in New Zealand history, but which was surpassed the following year by the larger Lake Ōhau fire. On the afternoon of February 5, 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 The Pigeon Valley Fire was 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. History. On 6 February 2019, a state of emergency was declared in the Nelson-Tasman region due to the fire in Pigeon Valley. By 9 February 2019, the Pigeon Valley fire was being described as the country's largest since 1955. Also, with 22 helicopters involved, it is New Zealand's largest aerial firefight on record. The fire caused 3,000 people from Wakefield and hundreds from surrounding areas to evacuate their homes and destroyed one house. On  17 February 2019, a helicopter crashed while fighting the fire in Tasman district, injuring the pilot. The state of emergency declared on 6 February was extended for another seven days on 19 February. The final group of about 230 residents evacuated from the Pigeon Valley fire near Nelson were permitted to return to their homes on 21 February. The fire was not completely out and their return was on the understanding that they might be required to leave again at short notice. With the state of emergency lifted, work was continuing on 28 February to put out the fire completely , which it was feared might take weeks or months with conditions "bone dry". On 6 March 2019, Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Group posted a notification that the Pigeon Valley fire was "controlled" and residents were no longer required to be ready to evacuate. The emergency management group defined a controlled fire as "one that is extinguished around the perimeter and is not moving...[with] a 100 metre cold zone." Inquiry. A report by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council, released on 30 October 2019, recommended a nationally consistent framework for tactical fire planning, and a list of 12  recommendations. Animal welfare response. On 6 February, HUHA founder Carolyn Press-McKenzie arrived in Nelson to setup an animal welfare shelter at Richmond Showground. By the 8th of February the temporary animal shelter was able to hold 956 animals, providing for companion animals, stock and injured wildlife amid growing public concern over animals trapped behind fire cordons Huha was joined by groups of volunteers, veterinarians and specialist organisations under the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) at the shelter, including SPCA's VERT team, the national rescue team (NRT), Federated Farmers, Animal Evac NZ and others. MPI, as the lead agency  for animal welfare in disasters in New Zealand, also provided a team of vets and animal officers who carried out animal welfare checks. A 16 person animal disaster response team were deployed by non-profit organisation, Animal Evac New Zealand on 9 February 2019 to the Richmond showground. The team included vet nurses, animal management officers and former SPCA inspectors as well as animal disaster and rescue experts and assisted MPI in recording the location of at risk companion animals and supporting owners at the Saxton welfare centre. Limited initial farm rescues were also carried out at the request of  local farmers and with permission of MPI and the New Zealand Police Animal casualties included 40 plus sheep which were euthanised after being unable to escape from a fenced enclosure during the fire and badly burnt Volunteer organisations received widespread praise for their response from government agencies involved and the local residents.