FIRES ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21355, 24 December 1934, Page 12

FIRES ON WEST COAST

REEFTON ENVELOPED IN

SMOKE

BUSH AND SCRUB BURNING (SI'ECIAL TO THE PRBSS.) REEFTON, December 23. Hills on three sides of Reefton are ablaze with bracken and fern fires, and the town is enveloped in smoke. Fern, blackberry, and broom on most of the hillsides in the Inangahua valley are burning fiercely. - The reservoir, which is situated on the top of a hill behind the town, is nearly empty, and it is thought that the supply may be affected by the ash and debris from the fires. Residents are not allowed to use hoses in the town, and the Inangahua County Council is placing restrictions on the use of water. The supply comes from a race down the hill and is very limited at present. From Reetton to Greymouth fairly extensive fires are burning along the roadsides, and the smoke, with the dust, makes motoring very unpleasant. The sky has been obscured by smoke most of the day, and high up the hillsides broad patches of names may be seen in the evening. Many large trees are burning all the way up Lheir trunks from the ground. There has been no great loss of property, as it is mostly poor land on which the fires are burning. An old miner's hut at Greenstone, near Kumara, was burnt down while the man was out at work, and all his possessions were lost. Warnings have been issued all over the West Coast. Pastures on the flat are very parched, and in some cases fires which have been lit to burn off gorse and scrub have got out of control and destroyed many acres of pasture. Fortunately there has been very little wind lately, but to-day there was a light south-west breeze. which fanned the flames, which might otherwise have died out. Though covered by a pall of smoke the town of Reefton is quite safe at present, though if a wind should spring up suddenly the blazing hillsides may be a menace. The dense clouds of smoke by day and the patches of flame by" night present an unusual and striking sight

I OUTBREAKS AT GREYMOUTH (SPECIAL TO THE PRISS.) GREYMOUTH, December 23. The Greymouth Fire Brigade was called out twice during the weekend. One outbreak occurred at Sotheran Bros.' sash and door factory in Arney street, and there were scrub fires in Blaketown, a suburb between Greymouth and the sea Both were extinguished without much damage.