Charges laid in relation to two Tasman District fires

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Johnston:   Nelson Police have charged two people in relation to a fire this afternoon on the side of the road in Pigeon Valley near Wakefield.   The fire was discovered soon after it had started by a member of the public and was able to be extinguished before it took hold.     A 34-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman have both been charged with arson in respect of today’s incident.   They have been remanded in custody to appear in Nelson District Court tomorrow, Thursday 7 March.    The man has also been charged with arson in relation to a fire that started on the side of the Moutere Highway last week. That fire caused extensive damage to a wide area of pine forest and resulted in the evacuation of local residents.     The investigation into these incidents is ongoing - even though these arrests have been made, we ask that the community remains vigilant, and that anyone who witnesses something suspicious reports it immediately.          ENDS   Issued by Police Media Centre.