Emergency services respond to fire near Port Nelson

Firefighters are working with Coastguard to respond to a fire on the Boulder Bank, near Port Nelson.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said several members of the public reported the fire just before 3pm on Monday.

There is no road access to the site and the spokesperson said it was not known if it was a bach or a vegetation fire at this stage.

Four firefighters and a portable water pump have been taken to the site by the harbourmaster.

Dark smoke from the fire was visible across the Nelson Haven.

There were several baches on the Boulder Bank - which is a naturally formed 13km spit, which protects Nelson City from Tasman Bay.

The baches were recognised by Heritage New Zealand/ Pouhere Taonga in 2013 as being part of a historic area that includes the Boulder Bank lighthouse, lighthouse station remains and several middens.

A bach on the bank was set on fire in 2021 and burnt to the ground.