9 Feb 2015

McNamara: Cost of fighting fire now over $1m

9:06 pm on 9 February 2015

Marlborough residents are being told their homes are now almost entirely out of danger from a forest fire that has been burning for five days.

More than 600 hectares of pine forest and farmland have been destroyed in the Onamalutu Valley, close to the Wairau River, since the fire started on Thursday.

Eighty firefighters are still working to put the fire out - including 20 firefighters from Nelson, whose arrival has allowed crews from Canterbury and the West Coast to return home.

Marlborough principal rural fire officer Richard McNamara said the fire was now fully controlled.

"Things are a lot better today - after two long hot hard days with crews out in the field, we're pretty confident of that control line," he said.

"And on top of that we've had a south-easterly wind change come through, with a little bit of rain behind it to multiple whatever the work the crews have done, so it's a good day today."

Mr McNamara said the cost of fighting the fire was now in excess of $1 million.

Fire fighters, helicopters and planes are battling a fire west of Blenheim.

The fire in Onamalutu Valley is expected to take weeks to fully extinguish Photo: RNZ / Alison Hossain

At one stage, 11 aircraft were working with the firefighters on the ground, and heavy machinery had been brought in to create fire breaks.

Incident controller John Foley, who flew over the scene again this morning, said the estimated cost was preliminary and did not include the actual damage to the forest and farmland, which would be a matter for property owners and their insurance providers.

Nelson Forests Limited director Lees Seymour said the fire had started in their forest but the company did not know how.

"If liability can be shown and the point of origin can be shown, then it goes down one path. If point of origin and the cause is indeterminate, then it goes down another path, so there's two separate paths."

Mr Seymour said investigations would determine their liability for costs.

Meanwhile, practical and emotional support is being offered to farmers, who have sustained losses including outbuildings, fencing, water tanks and kilometres of piping for stock water.

The Top of the South Rural Trust and Marlborough Federated Farmers have been checking on affected property owners, offering support and advice.

Mr McNamara said with tonight's forecast rain and southerly change, the firefighters hoped to start returning control to land owners tomorrow.

Richard McNamara and Rich Law, from the Blenheim rural fire force, in front of the incident control point.

Richard McNamara and Rich Law in front of the incident control point. Photo: RNZ / Paloma Migone

Firefighers from Ashburton wait to be deployed.

Firefighers from Ashburton wait to be deployed. Photo: RNZ / Paloma Migone

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