Serious Scrub Fires In South Canterbury

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 1

Serious Scrub Fires In South Canterbury

‘ (from Our Oun. Reporter? TIMARU, March 20. While engines from Pleasant Point, Geraldine and Temuka Volunteer fire brigades were fighting a serious fire on the property of Mr W, J. Hart, Upper Waitohi, this afternoon, a fierce grass and scrub fire developed in the then unprotected Pleasant Point township more than seven miles away.

Local residents extinguished tills outbreak, but at a late hour this evening renewed gales had started fresh fires in the Upper Waitohi area and it was expected that fire fighting units linder. the chief fire officer of pleasant Point (Mr G. C. Howey) would be standing by all nigfit. ■ Mr .E. Southward, postmaster at Pleasant Point, said the fire at Upper Waitohi broke out at about 3.15 p.m. The Pleasant Point machine answered the call and further assistance was sought.. An emergency call was put through to the Timaru Fire Brigade at 3.59 p.m. when a second fire was reported bn Cemetery Hill, which overlooks .the built-up area of Pleasant Point. ,

A big gang of volunteers fought the fire which, fanned by strong north-westerlies, swept across the railway siding, threatening the' greater part of the township. ■ However, the fire .was well under control by the time the m'achine from . -Timaru. arrived. • , The postmaster, said lie believed the ■ fire ’oh Mr Hart’s property started ’in .the. implement. shed, in .which a trawler tractor aind utility vehicle were;.destroyed. A hay shed was bulldozed into a nearby, gully, to protect the house, which at 7.30 pjn„ before, telephone communications were .disrupted, was reported to •be out of the danger zone.

.< The Pleasant Point Brigade was fighting a scrub• fire in the vicinity when it called for assistance: Units and water tenders from neighbouring brigades and local authorities were rushed to the scene and farmers assisted in fighting the biaze. • Post Office staff repaired a section of telegraph . line which was burnt out between Pleasant Point and Upper Waitohi Late this evening further faults were being attended to by line staff. Hundreds of pine trees were destroyed by fire in a plantation beside the Main Highway two miles south of Ashburton. Firemen and volunteers

■ with, five units fought the i blaze, which, fanned by a • strong north-west' wind, ■ spread rapidly through the ; plantation. ; Within a short time the fire I extended along a wide front I to the railway line 500 yards from the road. i Late last evening firemen 1 intended keeping an all-night i vigil because of the danger • of a further outbreak.. ! It took almost five hours ■ tp control the fire, which was first noticed about 4.30 p.m. > Two units from the Ashi burtop Volunteer Fire i Brigade, two from the county f council, and one from the Fairfield Freezing Work* > answered the call.