Fire Sweeps Hills Behind Teddington

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31879, 6 January 1969, Page 1

Fire Sweeps Hills Behind Teddington

Fire swept over an estimated 1000 acres of gorse and scrub in the hills behind Teddington yesterday. The smoke was visible from many parts of Christchurch.

The fire caused no damage to property and it is believed that no stock were lost.

At one point the fire was within half a mile of a farmhouse. Volunteer firemen! from Diamond Harbour and Lyttelton stood by at Teddington, as it was feared that an expected change of wind to the south would turn the fire back on to the building. The fire began when bum-ing-off got out <f control.

The Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Brigade received the first call soon after midday and it was reported to the Headquarters station shortly before 3 p.m. that the fire was under control.

During back-burning, firemen went to the head of Gebbie’s Pass to ensure that these fires travelled in the desired direction. There was an anxious period after the southerly change, but concern lessened as efforts to control the outbreak proved successful. Patrick Campbell, a volun-

teer fireman, of 55 Jacksons Road, Lyttelton, was injured when he fell from his bicycle as he was going to the Lyttelton station after the alarm jhad been raised. Mr Camp■bell was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital, where his condition last night was satisfactory.