PLANTATION FIRE AT BROMLEY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28549, 31 March 1958, Page 7

PLANTATION FIRE AT BROMLEY

Ten Acres Of Trees Destroyed

Swift action by firemen and volunteers prevented what could have been a major fire in the Christchurch Drainage Board’s plantation at Cuthberts road, Bromley, yesterday afternoon.

The outbreak was first noticed by a foreman employed by the board, Mr G. Aldridge. Two units from the Central and Woolston fire stations answered the call at 1.36 p.m. When the brigades arrived it seemed likely that the fire would spread rapidly, and further assistance was called for. Two more units from the Central station and the New Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade were soon on the scene.

Two 1200-foot hoses were used to pump water from nearby drains, and another lead was connected into a hydrant half a mile away.

Members of the drainage board staff were playing in a cricket match when the alarm was sounded, and players rushed to the fire in their white cricket garb. Some 50 volunteers concentrated on stopping the spread of the fire and checking'minor outbreaks. After the fire had been brought under control one volunteer estimated that 10 acres had been burnt.

At 7.24 p.m. units from the Central station were again called to extinguish live embers which had been noticed by a passer-by. An earlier fire at shortly after midday broke out on the board’s property in Jollie street where some tree stumps were reported to be smouldering. A unit from the Woolston fire station was called at 12.22 p.m., and the outbreak was controlled without damage.