FIRES NEAR TAUPO

Press, Volume C, Issue 29706, 27 December 1961, Page 8

FIRES NEAR TAUPO

Warnings By Officers (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 26. A fierce blaze raced through 12 acres of scrub near Waitahanui near Taupo, this afternoon. Fire fighters were unable to get vehicles to it but. using portable pumps, were able to control it at a point two miles from the giant Kaingaroa exotic forest. A large scrub fire also flared at the southern end of Lake Taupo, near Korohe Pa, on Monday, but as no property was endangered the blaze was allowed to burn itself out. A number of other minor outbreaks were also reported ip the district. Fire officers reported tinder dry conditions throughout the Auckland province tonight. In most districts of the Rotorua and Auckland Forest Service conservancies it is nearly three weeks since more than a quarter of an inch of rain has been recorded At Taupo police officers and forest service rangers have decided to form an emergency fire fighting unit. “Under the present conditions fires could spread rapidly and cause lots of damage.” said Mr F. O. Buckingham, the senior ranger in the Auckland conservancy. "There will be a lot of people travelling in country areas during the next few days and we hope they’ll be very careful." Light showers fell in the Rotorua district on Monday night but the fire danger remained high. Forest Service officers said.