FOUR FIRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 110, 19 February 1935, Page 6

FOUR FIRES.

OUTBREAKS IN ASHBURTON DISTRICT. t NO SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE. Fires broke out in four parts of the Ashburton County yesterday afternoon, when a. steady north-west wind gave farmers cause for some concern. However, there was little damage done by any of the fires. An area of grass near ±he railway line between Dromoie and Chertsey caught alight and the Ashburton County Council's trailer pump was summoned. It was not required, however, as a number ol settlers had the flames in check when it arrived.

Damage to a hedge and a small area of grass was done by a fire which occurred on Racecourse Road about 3 p.m. Reports state that the cause of the outbreak was the burning of hedge clippings. An outbreak on the farm of G. H. McTague at Coldstream was got under control before-any serious damage resulted. It spread to a plantation but a number of neighbouring farmers and the County Council's plant soon extinguished the flames and saved the trees. " Another request for the assistance of the Council's plant came from Rakaia about 4 p.m., fire having broken out on Sir J. L. Connolly's property. A large area of grass land was threatened °and neighbouring farmers turned out in laige numbers. The fire reached a plantation, and strenuous efforts were made by the fire-fighters to check it from spreading. In this they were successful by diverting a water-race, but a wind sprang up later and a fresh outbreak occurred. The Council's plant proceeded to the scene later after returning from Coldstream.