FIRES CAUSED BY TRAINS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26832, 10 September 1952, Page 6

FIRES CAUSED BY TRAINS

CONTROL IN HIGH COUNTRY CATCHMENT BOARD’S PROPOSAL In a effort to check fires on the Midlai\d ra| lway line between Springfield and Cass, tne North Canterbury Catchment Board recommended at a meeting recently that the Railways Department should burn off only during August each year. If the department had burnt firebreaks regularly it was possible that two recent fires in the district would have been prevented, said the chairman or the soil conservation and reserves committee (Mr R. M. D. Johnson) in a report to the board. One fire had spread up a face on Craigieburn run and the other had burnt part of Flock Hill run. “Runholders have had sheep burnt and the position is becoming worse he added. “I realise that the ?u P a. a { t . ment has difficulties in staffing that bleak, hard country, but they are the department’s trains which are setting fire to the country. The department has burnt some breaks, but it hiake greater efforts to have this frontage burnt during August.” he said.

The greatest potential fire danger was to be found in places where swamp land ran down to the railway line, he continued. The tall grass that grew on swamps was laid low by snow in the winter and when it dried 2 ut J 1 Provided a “veritable tinder P ox - Trams steamed at full capacity in this steep locality and because of this extra power were more likely to throw sparks. Mr Johnson said that he and the soil conservation officer of the board (Mr R. D. Dick) had inspected the area between Springfield and Cass with the resident engineer of railways before making the report. Mr H. H. Petrie: Isn’t it a tall order to ask the department to do all the burning off in August. Is there no chance of extending the time in case of a wet August such as the past month?

Mr Johnson: August this year was the driest in history in that district. It was decided to send a copy of the recommendation and the committees report to the district engineer of railways and to Mr J. K. McAlpine. M.P.. owner of Craigieburn, who advised of the fire on his property.