FIRE ON PORT HILLS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27914, 10 March 1956, Page 10

FIRE ON PORT HILLS

BROOM, GORSE AND SCRUB BURNT

Fire swept through about 70 acres of tinder dry broom, gorse, scrub and grass on the slopes above Port Hills road, Woolston, and on the western slopes of Avoca Valley yesterday afternoon, passing close to at least four houses. One hundred and twenty to 130 fire fighters including five units of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, about 15 employees of the Heathcote County Council with two water tanker units, many local residents and employees of commercial organisations with nearby interests fought the fire for about five hours. The fire began on Port Hills road close to an old unused brick house on property owned by John Brightling, Ltd. It burnt around the old house and spread into high broom, gorse and scrub on the lower slopes of the hills. The outbreak was noticed by Mr A. Emmett, the electrical inspector of the Heathcote County Council who called out the foreman for the riding, Mr A. Blain, and notified the Christchurch Fire Brigade.

With at least four units and a jeep in the Port Hills road early in the afternoon there was an abundance of fire fighting equipment on the scene, but hose had to be run out for about half a mile from Opawa road to bring water to the fire.

As the fire spread up to the crest of the steep rocky slopes it was met by fire fighters waiting on the crest with two water tanker units of the Heathcote County Council. The burnt-out country left by a fire in the same area in January also acted as a buffer for the latest outbreak. Fire Near Kiln As the fire was halted on the crests it continued to burn in the thick broom and scrub near a kiln leased from Brightlings by Amalgamated Batteries. Ltd., and a brick store leased by the Empire Rubber Mills, Ltd., from the same firm. The brigade ran a lead into this area and damped down the scrub in front of the fire. The Empire Rubber Mills sent a team of about 15 men to help fight the fire and provided refreshments for the firefighters.

As the fire spread along the foot of the hill backed by a light northeasterly it came within about 50 yards of a five-roomed brick cottage with a concrete veneer which is believed to be about 100 years old. The cottage is rented as a week-end bach by a retired airman, Mr G. Somerfield from Mr R. Jarden. The brigade took a lead up a steep slope above the cottage to nalt the fire and another lead was used to damp down the scrub close to the cottage. Spectators saw a brigade officer set alight to scrub below the fire to back-burn and bring the flames to a halt. Shortly after 5 p.m. tanker units of the brigade were called back to the pit close to where the fire had started as broom and gorse again burst into flames.