Fires Break Out On West Coast

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31150, 29 August 1966, Page 1

Fires Break Out On West Coast

Smoke from a large scrub fire about five miles south of Ross on the West Coast was rising to about 6000 ft yesterday afternoon. Captain Brian Waugh, pilot manager of West Coast Airways, Ltd., said he was flying a Dominie aircraft from Franz Josef to Hokitika when he passed through the smoke about 3000 ft.

The smoke formed a large mushroom-like cloud. The fire was burning along a three-quarter mile front and was on the seaward side of the main road, Captain Waugh said. A light south-west wind was fanning the flames. No property or buildings were endangered.

After a prolonged dry spell there is a high fire danger on the West Coast and there have been several scrub fires over a wide area.

On Thursday and Friday there was a spectacular scrub fire in the vicinity of the Hokitika airport. No damage was done to property, but Hokitika firemen kept watch on the blaze all Friday night.

Firemen battled a scrub i fire threatening property in the Buller district and West : port at the week-end, accord-

ing to a Press Association message from Westport.

For more than 12 hours yesterday firemen fought a scrub fire threatening the township of Waimangaroa, 10 miles north of Westport. Farmers and other volunteers helped the Waimangaroa Fire Brigade fight the blaze. Several brigade members were away in Christchurch for the third Rugby test. The fire-fighters made a successful last-ditch stand against the flames last night at the Fairdown power station, and the fire was under control by 3 a.m. today.

The only property damage reported was to some flax and a farm tractor. Another outbreak occurred near the power station about 1 p.m. today, and firemen remained on duty keeping close watch.

A sawmill in Westport was threatened today by a scrub

fire in a section. The fire was quickly brought under control by the Westport Fire Brigade. A fire has raged unchecked on waste pakihi land near Westport for two or three days, but no property has been threatened. Small outbreaks have also been seen in the surrounding bush country, but none has posed any threat The fire hazard suddenly increased on Thursday when the district was lashed by strong winds.

Little rain has fallen for several weeks.