FIRES IN CANADA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29602, 26 August 1961, Page 11

FIRES IN CANADA

Emergency Declared

(N.Z. Press Asm.—Copyright) ST. JOHN'S (Newfoundland), August 25. There was hardly an area in eastern and central Newfoundland not ablaze or covered with smoke today, the Associated Press reported. St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland, has been bathed in smoke for three days from nearby forest fires. Yesterday hundreds of Newfoundlanders fled their homes in the face of rampaging forest fires described as “hundreds of little hells.” One fire swept into the north-east coast village of Brookfield and destroyed seven homes. Women and children fled from the little community of about 500. The men stayed behind to try to save a 20-bed hospital and their homes. The Provincial Premier, Mr Joseph Smallwood, declared a state of emergency in Newfoundland. The national Government at Ottawa said 200 soldiers were on the way from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to reinforce weary firefighters. Another major fire on the south coast of the province jumped a road and raced for Swift Current, a resort settlement of about 600 about 75 miles north-west of St. John’s. The fire, which has been burning at the rate of five miles a day, was within two miiet of Swift Current

Press Centre.— The United States Government would open a press centre for foreign correspondents in New York about mid -October, the White House announced last niijht.—Washington, August 25.