Nelson fire: Orchards ploughed to make fire-breaks

Tasman's deputy mayor says the flow-on effects of the large forest fire are beginning to show. Residents in parts of Wakefield, south of Richmond, have been on alert through the night in case the need to evacuate. The warning to prepare to leave went out late last evening to people living between Pigeon Valley and Arnold Lane near Spring Grove. Tim King, whose family was evacuated from their farm in Eves Valley, says the fire is affecting the livelihoods of many in the farming and agricultural sectors. He says the large commercial sawmill in Eves Valley has been shut down for now, which has affected forestry crews and hundreds of workers. Mr King says the apple harvest is due to start, but orchardists have lost trees in the fire and through the urgent creation of fire-breaks. The fire which spread back to Wakefield on Thursday night was quiet on Friday morning, with witnesses reporting only a few visible hot spots. RNZ reporter Tracy Neal has the latest details.