Fire Sweeps Through Scrub At Waimairi

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 14

Fire Sweeps Through Scrub At Waimairi

Fire, fanned by a strong north-west wind, swept through about 30 acres of scrub at Waimairi Beach yesterday afternoon. The blaze started near the edge of the pine plantation bordering the Waimairi Golf Course, and travelled south-east almost to the sea.

There was no damage to property but the fire came right to the edge of the firebreak between the plantation and the scrub. The only building endangered by the outbreak was the partly completed home of Mr and Mrs J. Cox on an unformed street off the northern end of Aston street.

As a precaution, all the reels, surf boards, surf canoes and other equipment were removed from the Waimairi Surf Club pavilion and placed out of danger.

The fire broke out about 2.30 p.m. and shortly before 7 p.m. it was under control when it reached a firebreak cut by two bulldozers, and the wind died down. There were two units from the New Brighton fire station. one from central, and the Waimairi County Council fire tender stationed at various points around the outbreak. Two bulldozers were also used, one belonging to the Waimairi County Council and the other to the parks and reserves department of the Christchurch City Council. Because of the lack of a water supply there was very little the firemen could do to stop the blaze from spreading. About 60 men were engaged in fighting the fire including firemen and members of the staffs of the Waimairi County Council and the City Council. A large team of men prevented the flames from jumping the firebreak between the scrub and the plantation at the northern end of the outbreak by shovelling sand and using beaters.

Dense clouds of grey smoke were carried by the wind south along the beach past South Brighton. Mr and Mrs Cox’s quarteracre section is completely surrounded by scrub. They are building their own house and have been working on it for nearly 12 months. The framework is up and there is a completed garage on the section. A fire engine, with the motor running, was stationed near the house and there was a number of firemen standing by. There is no high pressure water supply but an artesian well has been sunk on the property and the water from this was run into a drum. Mr Cox used a tin to spread water around the edge ot the house closest to the scrub. Two car loads of police from the Central Station went to the scene to keep back spectators and to prevent them from hampering the work of the fire fighters. Sergeant R. G. Gargett was in charge of the police party. Traffic officers of the Christchurch City Council were stationed at intersections of streets near the fire and traffic in Beach road was diverted for a period. The Deputy-Chief Fire Officer, Mr C. H. Robinson, .was in charge of the firemen, and Mr P. H. Roberts, a fire officer ot the Waimairi County Council, assisted in supervisin'* the fire fighting