Nearly 30 personnel from Canterbury councils have been deployed to help respond to the fires in Nelson.

Canterbury Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group duty officer Gavin Treadgold said seven Emergency Operations Centre personnel deployed earlier in the week to provide assistance after a request from Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

“As of this afternoon, we’ve sent an additional 22 response team volunteers to provide support to the Pigeon Valley fire response currently underway near Nelson.

“The team of responders comprises of CDEM volunteers from several councils in Canterbury who will be working under the direction of the Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management Group who are coordinating the response.”

“The response we’ve seen from the community, emergency services and the CDEM efforts so far is outstanding,” he said.

“We hope sending additional resource will help further strengthen the already great job they’re doing.”

It is expected the deployment will last through the weekend.

For the latest updates for this response go to: nelsontasmancivildefence.co.nz

© Scoop Media