The plight of the 2500 people forced out of their homes is on the minds of many with locals gathering in community church services for support and to pray for a reprieve from the Tasman fire.
As many as 70 people from one congregation have been evacuated from their homes.
“What a rollercoaster, emotionally charged week this district is having,” Hope Community Church pastor Donald Irvine told 1 NEWS.
Two of the homeless are 95-year-old Cecil Stokes and his wife Mary.
“We never expected this to happen to us,” Mr Stokes told 1 NEWS.
“It always happens to someone else,” Mrs Stokes said.
Wakefield evacuee Jenny Downey said: "I have 21 grandchildren and 18 of them are homeless right now.”
The church will turn schoolhouse tomorrow, for the pupils of Wakefield School which is still behind the cordon.
Emergency services are getting support too as they work around the clock, with army kitchens set up over Saturday night.
The kitchen will do 415 meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a packed meal for the fire crews working overnight up on the hill.
The massive fire broke out on Tuesday, and authorities remain on edge but cautiously optimistic as they battle to put it out.
A fire break now fully surrounds the 2300 hectares the fire is burning over.
Residents of Wai-iti are still on alert to evacuate, but the threat from forecast strong winds didn't eventuate on Sunday afternoon.
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