FIRES IN FRANCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 266, 23 August 1949, Page 3

FIRES IN FRANCE

More Bodies Recovered DEATHROLL NOW ABOUT 230 (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright). (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) PARIS, August 22. Tired anti smoke-blackened firefighters and troops to-day found more charred bodies in the smouldering ashes of trees and undergrowth, bringing the total deathroll in the Landes Region to about. 230. This figure was given by the Prefect of the Gironde district. Many of the blackened bodies had their fingers buried in the soft sandy earth trying in their last desperate moments to escape by scraping holes. Many of the dead were fire-fighters. This afternoon the fire-fighters were switched to Cazalis, , where a swift burning fire had broken out and was travelling toward Callon in the Landes Department. Refugees speak of fires advancing “with the speed of a galloping horse” and leaving behind a desert of ashes. FIERCE FIRES IN AMERICA SIX OUT OF CONTROL (Rec. 11.55) NEW YORK, Aug. 22. Fierce torest tires are raging today in seven American States and in Ontario ana yueoec, oanaaa. The worst American hies are in idauo ana Wyoming. Others are burning in Montana, Utan, Oregon, YYasnmgLon and Ganiornia. Six major fires are out oi control —three m Payette National Forest in Central Idaho and three in' Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The most dangerous fire is a 7000acre blaze in ilea's Uanyon in Payette forest, {several fne-hghters tnere suffered burns when a nigh wind swept the names down on them. The area of the outbreaks is drought-stricken, and lightning has caused over 300 fires .through ail estimated. 33,000 acres of timber. Thousands oi fire-fighters are fighting a desperate battle trying to control the most serious of them. In Quebec to-day 80 forest fires burned —12 of them out of control. Forestry officials said that high winds and lack of rain made the situation serious. The worst fire in Ontario is In 400 acres of timber near the village of Irondale, which is threatened. Volunteers have been rushed to the area by plane. Other aircraft are hovering over the district radioing directions to (he fire-fighters.