FIRE DANGER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 99, 6 February 1948, Page 4

FIRE DANGER

County Plants Kept Busy

According to a report by the engineer, Mr R. L. Lindsay, to this afternoon’s meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council, there Were 29 attendances at fires during the past two months by the plants at Ashburton arid Rakaia. The actual number of fires, was less than that figure, as both plants attended on some occasions.

Dealing with this matter, the engl neer stated:

“During December and January the fire, fighting plant. stationed at Ashburton was dispatched to 16 fires, while the plant- stationed at Rakaia attended 13 fires. In some cases both Ashburton and Rakaia plant was required at the same outbreak.

The Ashburton Borough Fire Brigade. waq always ready to assist when required and it was necessary to call on this equipment on three occasions.

“The fire through which the council suffered the greatest loss, was that which started in the plantation at Windermere. Approximately 130 acres of pinus trees were destroyed and two miles of fence damaged. “A lorry supplied by the New Zealand Railways is used to follow the afternoon express from Ealing to Ashburton on days when there is a risk of an outbreak of fire. The lorry is equipped with drums of water, bucket pumps, shovels, etc., and is manned by a council employee and a railway employee.”'