FIRES PUT OUT BY RAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25609, 25 September 1948, Page 8

FIRES PUT OUT BY RAIN

17,000 ACRES OF HILL COUNTRY BURNED

MANY MILES OF FENCES DESTROYED From Our Own Reporter

TIMARU, Sept. 24. Rain which set fh early this morning and continued till midday, put out the fires which had swept high-country runs in South Canterbury and southern Mid-Canterbury. In the two major outbreaks in the Rangitata gorge, on either side of the river, about 17,000 acres of grass, tussock, scrub, and fence lines were swept by flames on Wednesday and yesterday. Fires were reported also in the Hunter hills, in the Waimate district, and on Sherwood range yesterday. About 5000 acres on the 28,000-acre Lochaber station, were burnt, according to the pastoral liaison officer of the South Canterbury Catchment Board (Mr C. J. Kerr). At 6 o’clock on Wednesday evening it was thought the fire was under control, and six men were left to watch it, while others slept out in blankets. Yesterday afternoon the fire had spread to the Sherwood range, and on the properties of Messrs W. S. D. Wreford and T. H. Moorhead it burned across snow grass at a speed which the fire-fighters could not cope with. All of the grass and miles of fences were destroyed. It was thought that the Tasman Ski Club’s hut might be endangered, but breaks had been burned round it by Mr S. P. Bray, and the building was safe. A fire almost as large as that behind Peel Forest was also burning yesterday on the other side of the river. It originated on Tuesday from some burn-ing-off on Tenehaun, the sheep run of Mrs M. Wright on the north bank of the Rangitata river at the entrance to the gorge. The danger arose when the fire got out of hand m a strong easterly wind, which veered to the north-west on Wednesday. The outbreak was then carried on to the neighbouring properties of Messrs L. P. Chapman (Mount Somers) and N. B. Morrow (Wakare). A large band of volunteers from Mayfield, Mount Somers, and adjoining runs fought the flames on Thursday when the fire reached its most serious stage, but could not make much impression on them because of the hilly nature of the country. Strenuous efforts were made on Thursday to shift sheep from the path of the fire. During the afternoon there was a danger to the homestead of Mr N. B. Morrow, and an urgent call was sent to the Ashburton County Council’s office for assistance. Two fire-fighting units were sent to the sc?he, but little use could be made of them because sufficient water was not available. Backburning was carried out successfully near the homestead, reducing the danger to the buildings. Mr Kerr estimated that about 7000 acres of country were covered by the fire.