WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A bush fire on New Zealand’s South Island spread through thousands of hectares, destroying property and forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes, officials said on Wednesday. The fire that started at Pegion Valley in Nelson on Tuesday doubled overnight to spread over 1,870 hectares within a perimeter of 20 kilometers, the Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Office said in a statement. More than 100 homes have been evacuated or self-evacuated, the statement said, and people were being sheltered at civil defense centers. Authorities declared a civil defense emergency in the Nelson-Tasman region. Several homes have been burned down although there have been no reports of casualties or injuries so far. Strong winds have been fanning the flames and firefighters struggled to reach affected forest areas. Officials said 12 fire crews worked overnight to control the fire, and 10 helicopters and two planes were being used on Wednesday to control the blaze. It could take up to four days to extinguish the fire, firefighters said.<doc-sep>About 700 residents are being evacuated from a New Zealand town as a forest fire threatens the area. Civil defense authorities on Friday decided to evacuate parts of Wakefield on the South Island. Authorities opened up a sports stadium as a welfare center and said they can accommodate people who don't have friends or family to stay with elsewhere. Others in the town of 3,000 are waiting to hear if they will also be evacuated, and many are choosing to leave. The wildfire has been burning since Tuesday and has spread to about 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres). It has burned down one house. Authorities believe it was started by sparks from farm equipment. Other, smaller fires have also flared up in the dry region, including in the city of Nelson.<doc-sep>SYDNEY (Reuters) - Strong winds on Sunday are expected to fan forest fires that have been burning for a week through New Zealand’s South Island, forcing thousands of people from their homes, with more residents expected to flee, officials said. Slideshow ( 12 images ) The Pigeon Valley fire covers 2,300 ha (5,700 acres) with a 25 km (15 mile) perimeter, NZ Civil Defence said in a statement on its website. No deaths have been reported and only one home destroyed. “There is some concern about predicted high winds this afternoon, which are expected to test the control lines,” the agency said. Early on Sunday, 155 firefighters were battling the blaze on the ground with air support from 23 helicopters and 3 fixed wing planes, the agency said, making it the largest aerial firefight on record in New Zealand. Up to 3,000 people have been forced to leave the Wakefield and Pigeon Valley areas, NZ Civil Defence Controller Roger Ball told a Saturday news conference on Saturday. More people were likely to be forced from their homes on Sunday. New Zealand Red Cross Communications Manager Ellie van Baaren said evacuees were tired and frustrated. “When you have to leave your home and in some cases your livestock and animals and you don’t know what’s become of them, and you’re staying with friends and family, then it’s an uncertain situation for everybody,” she told Reuters by telephone. Much of the affected area south of Nelson was used for forestry but it also has many small farms. Some livestock has also been moved to safety. Fires started on Monday and Tuesday and quickly spread. On Wednesday, authorities declared a state of emergency. Hundreds of volunteer and professional firefighters, police, civil defense and military personnel are battling the fires.<doc-sep>
Strong winds are expected to fan forest fires that have been burning for a week through New Zealand’s South Island, forcing thousands of people from their homes. Early on Sunday, 155 firefighters were battling the blaze on the ground with air support from 23 helicopters and three fixed wing planes, making it the largest aerial firefight on record in New Zealand. A helicopters dumps water on a fire near Nelson, New Zealand. Photograph: Evan Barnes Up to 3,000 people have been forced to leave the Wakefield and Pigeon Valley areas, the civil defence controller, Roger Ball, told a news conference on Saturday. More people were likely to be forced from their homes on Sunday. The Pigeon Valley fire covers 2,300 hectares (5,700 acres) with a 25 km (15 mile) perimeter, NZ Civil Defence said on its website. No deaths have been reported and only one home destroyed as of Sunday. “There is some concern about predicted high winds this afternoon, which are expected to test the control lines,” the agency said. The New Zealand Red Cross communications manager Ellie van Baaren said evacuees were tired and frustrated. “When you have to leave your home and in some cases your livestock and animals and you don’t know what’s become of them, and you’re staying with friends and family, then it’s an uncertain situation for everybody,” she said. Much of the affected area south of Nelson was used for forestry but it also has many small farms. Some livestock has also been moved to safety. Fires started on Monday and Tuesday and quickly spread. On Wednesday, authorities declared a state of emergency.