MILES OF FIRES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13064, 5 February 1943, Page 4

MILES OF FIRES

bush and scrub

Forests In Danger

Northland Areas Swept

Whangarei, Feb. 3

The most widespread bush and scrub fires in North Auckland for many years have occurred as a result of exceptionally dry conditions. Thousands of acres of second growth, fern, tea-tree and rank pasture have been swept, but so far, although large stands of forest are endangered, the loss of timber trees has been slight. The fires are scattered throughout the peninsula, north-east and west of Whangarei. Perhaps the most serious consequences attach to a scrub fire which, burning for many days along NinetyMile Beach, has destroyed thousands of acres of pine trees planted by the Government with the purpose of reclaiming the sand dunes. With the burning of the vegetation, the sand has been released, and when westerly winds blow will again move inland to endanger- fertile farming country.

The atmosphere in the Awanui swamp region is impregnated, with the odour of burning peat, while scrubland in the Lake Ohia district is ablaze. Damage in Milling Area A State forest is imperilled by burning bush at Pipiwai, where considerable damage has been done to a milling area in the past 36 hours. Although the outbreak had subsided considerably by this afternoon, lorries could not use the mill roads. Another large forest, that clothing the Tutamoe ranges, the highest point in North Auckland ,is jeopardised by the extension of the Opouteke fire into the Hobson County. Already it has traversed about eight miles ,leaving a trail of destroyed fences, blackened pastures and smouldering logs. There, as in other districts, a serious shortage of grass is likely to confront property holders, who have lost feed for sheep and store cattle. This shortage will be aggravated by the prolonged dry spell, for there is no surplus of feed anywhere.