TRAPPED BY FLAMES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 23, 7 November 1938, Page 7

TRAPPED BY FLAMES.

RESERVISTS’ LUCKY ESCAPE SCRUB FIRE AT TRENTHAM. (Ter Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 6. Lieutenant N. Cowper and sovcrel special reservists were trapped in flames when fighting a serious scrub fire at Trentham to-day. They escaped after a desperate run for safety, some of the men suffering superficial burns and damage to their uniforms. The outbreak started at 11 a.m., and spread rapidly to a hillside, threatening the pine plantations of the At iTaito prison. All able-bodied prisoners and the staff, aided by a detachment of boy scouts, who were encamped on the Centennial Jamboree site at Heretaunga. endeavoured to cope with the fire, which swept a wide acreage rapidly. Eventually the Trentham Camp was called on for help, and 100 reservist officers and other camp staff responded. Lieut. Cowper and several reservists under the impression that a section of the blazing scrub had been effectively dealt with, advanced to fight the flames further up the slopes. While thov were so engaged the scrub over r \\.hiclt they had advanced became afire again, and they were trapped between two sets of burning scrub. The men made a. rush for safety through the section where the fire was least fierce and got through at the cost of superficial burns and damaged uniforms. The fire was suppressed by 3 p.tn.