As fire fighters continue to battle a major blaze covering nearly 2000 hectares in Pigeon Valley near Nelson, a separate fire has broken out on the city's Rabbit Island.
The new fire broke out early this afternoon and eyewitness video provided to 1 NEWS, filmed from the mainland, shows a large plume of smoke billowing from the island.
Read more: Farmland in Redwood Valley left blackend by fire
1 NEWS shot footage of helicopters with moonsoon buckets dousing the Rabbit Island blaze and police cordons in place.
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