HEATH FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 211, 7 September 1933, Page 7

HEATH FIRES.

COUNTRY ABLAZE. TROOPS CALLED OUT. Extraordinary Scenes in English Counties* WATER FAMINE IN IRELAND. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) . RUGBY, September fl. Troops, stripped to the waist and ■wearing steel helmets and gas masks, ■were again engaged to-day, fighting heath fires along the borders of Hampshire and Surrey. The countryside for nearly eight miles has been burned in last night's fire, but although its progress was stopped by the efforts of the troops, police, firemen and civilians, smouldering patches again broke out in several places to-day,, notably along the Ring-wood-Wimborne Road. Fire brigades have been using thousands of feet of hose, but the scarcity of ■water adds to the difficulties of the firefighters. Troops are .patrolling all areas where further outbreaks are likely and will remain on duty throughout the night. Smoke clouds from the heathlands can be seen for many miles.

Tho drought is causing anxiety in Ireland. The Shannon is closed to navigation above Athlone. Dublin is faced with a water famine, and parts of the city are rationed in the expectation of the continuance of the longest dry spell since 1887. Lakes and rivers throughout the country are at the lowest levels in living memory and reservoirs are more than half empty. Harvest has been suspended in many districts in order to water the cattle.