WHEAT CROP FIRE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29728, 23 January 1962, Page 15

WHEAT CROP FIRE

Good Save At Lakeside

Abnormally high temperatures and a north-west gale made difficulty .or the firefighters when an outbreak occurred on Sunday afternoon. on the farm of Mr H A Patterson, at Lakeside which resulted in considerable damage to ■' recentlv he=ded crop of wheat The Leeston and Southbridge Volunteer Fire Brigades and the Ellesmere County Council’s tank truck were summoned and many men from nearby farms ga'hered to help Their efforts in confin.ng the fire to one paddock of about seven acres and t small part of an adjoining field, which had also been headed during the week-end were remarkably successful : a the circumstances Particularly effective work was done by the Southbridge brigade’s tank unit Lying in rows across the paddock where they had been drnppes from the header-harveste’. the sack' boldine ’he wheat were all destroyed and the grain milled on tie ground When •he flames were brought under control willing helpers se* tn work with a tractor operated s*ono shovels and bulk grain mirks tn recover as much of 'he wheat as pos sible Gorse fence' around •> paddock were destroyed The on’b r »ak crumed In a roadside ditch immediately under r Power Board transformer where pieces of glass tube from ’he outside of the trans, former had igni’ed dry grass and the gorse fence.