FIRE DANGER IN COROMANDEL

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26030, 6 February 1950, Page 3

FIRE DANGER IN COROMANDEL

EXTRA EQUIPMENT FLOWN FROM WELLINGTON

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. February 3. So serious has the forest fire risk become in the Coromandel peninsula that reserve fire-fighting equipment has been flown north by the New Zealand Forest Service. This will supplement the plant already on the spot. An officer of the service said to-day that this reserve plant comprised a portable pump, two collapsible tanks of a type designed for fighting fires m the London blitz, and 1000 feet of hose. Another similar consignment of reserve equipment will be flown to Coromandel on Monday. Another step to deal with the forest PF®.4 an S er toe far north is the prohibition of firefe—even camp fires—in the Coromandel peninsula and in the North Auckland area north of Otamatea county. Portable pnmns which ‘ are to be used against forest fires which may break out on the Coromandel peninsula weigh only about 701 b, and are carried in a specially designed pack on a man’s back. Powered with a petrol motor, they can pump 3300 gallons of water at 1001 b pressure with one gallon of petrol; It is planned to use collapsible canvas tanks in pairs;, one tank holding about 800 gallons of water , will be at the scene of anv forest fire that may occur, and wi|J be supplied, from a second tank holding about 500 gallons, which will be used on a truck to carry water to the scene of the operations.