BIG BUSH EIRE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20315, 14 August 1931, Page 10

BIG BUSH EIRE.

KAIKOUKA FOREST ABLAZE. | i Sl2 VUK A L HOMES ENDANGERED, | A bu.di lire which started, to burn on property at the head of the lilue Duck Valley, in tho Seaward Ranges about twelve miles from Ivaikoura, on "Wednesday night swept for nearly three miles down the valley through heavilytimbered country, and burning fiercely throughout; yesterday morning threat- ! oned tho homes of several settlers. Fires had boeri burning for some days on farm land at tho top of the valley, uiul it is thought that Wednesday's gale flung sparks from these fires into dry undergrowth, which smouldered until the breeze which blew down the valley in the evening fanned them into flames, which quickly spread through the treetops, and were soon a menace to the farm-houses in the lire's path. 'Front the valley-head the fire spread through the heavy bush on Mr F. Gibson's property, seriously endangered this and the homes on the farms of Messrs L\ Gibson, Ralph Smith, E. Wallace, and Ralph Parsons, and finally burnt itself out in the clearer land past the latter farmer's holding. An Unenviable Experience. .Mr Smith and his family had an unenviable experience, the fire spreading through the grass right to his home, and it; was only through the use of a horse and a fairly plentiful supply of water that his buildings were kept from catching fire. In all the tiro covered an area over two milos long and tho wholo width of the valley, about half a mile. The green trees and the undergrowth retarded the fire enough to allow the settlers to get all stock clear, and their only loss is in the many acres of cleared grassland which were destroyed. As far as can be ascertained, although tho ! homes of the settlers mentioned were in. i great danger of being caught in the ! fire's path through the thick forest, not a building at any of the farms was j damaged. ! It is stated that a sawmill operated i in the valley some time ago, but there had been no cutting recently. During Wednesday's gale a haystuck, owned by Mr M. .Broadbent, in Suburban Kaikoura, and valued at £35. was destroyed by tire.