WHERE THE FIRE PASSED

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22610, 16 January 1939, Page 9

WHERE THE FIRE PASSED

DEPTH OP TRAGEDY

REVEALED

MORE DEATHS FEARED IN VICTORIA TERRIBLE SCENE AT RUINED TOWN (united press ASSOClATlON—copteioht.) (Received January 10, 1.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, January 15. After two days of a cool change the bush fires are now more or less under control in Victoria, but only now is the full horror of the tragedy being revealed. About 30 are known to have lost their lives when the fires were at their height on Friday night, making the total death roll about 55 Dozens, however, are still .missing and it is feared that many more are yet to be added to the list of victims.

News is still difficult to gather bebecause of the failure of communications.

Sixteen deaths were reported yesterday at Matlock, eight at Tanjil, one at Aberfeldy, and one at Hall’s Gap. An unconfirmed report says that 36 are dead and 118 injured at Wood’s Point and the surrounding district. Wood’s Poml, a. mining, and milling town in the heart of the forest 40 miles beyond Warburton, was completely wiped out.. Of its 150 houses 143 are in ashes. The fire leaped upon the town on three sides, reducing it to ruins in half an hour.

Because of the remoteness of the town and the blocking of the narrow mountain road by miles of fallen trees, rescue parties took hours, in a strenuous battle through the fallen and still blazing forest, to reach the scene. Most of them were blinded by smoke when they arrived. A terrible scene of devastation awaited them. The frantic, homeless population, many suffering agonies from burns, was awaiting treatment by doctors in the rescue party. The reported deaths are believed to. have occurred at the mills, a few miles beyond Wood’s Point. Hours of Terror At Noojee, which was also wiped out, lives were also lost. It was at first thought that the evacuation of the population of Noojee by goods train on Friday afternoon had averted deaths, but it is learned that two married couples, four children, and a young man are dead. At Brown’s Mill, seven miles from Noojee, grave fears are felt for the safety of five men, a woman' and a child. Late on Friday night at Omeo, which earlier was thought safe, the fire raced down the surrounding hillsides, destroying the hotel, the hospital, 20 houses, and 10 shops. Beyond Omeo, which is on the highway to the Victorian Alps. St. Bernard’s Hospice, and the Hotham Heights Chalet, two well-known winter sports resorts at an altitude of 6000 feet, were completely destroyed. About 20 guests at each place raced for their lives to creeks where they sheltered till the fire passed. In every town and settlement m the eastern half of the State on Friday night and Saturday morning, the residents spent hours of terror, flying before the fury of the flames, sheltering in smoke-filled dugouts and creeks till the heat drove them out to seek new refuges. It is feared that when a complete survey is made, many deaths by suffocation in dug-outs will be revealed. Thousands of volunteers from the city and the larger country towns rushed to the stricken areas with cars and trucks laden with relief food and medical supplies.