‘Malicious’ fires in forests

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33447, 31 January 1974, Page 2

‘Malicious’ fires in forests

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 30. Fires lit deliberately or through carelessness were burning over thousands of acres of New Zealand forests today.

Five new fires yesterday added to the problems of the Forest Service, which was already battling a 2700-acre fire In the Tongariro State Forest, near Turangi. Two of the new fires were on the Owhango side of the Tongariro Forest, and three were near Reefton.

The chief fire control officer of the Forest Service (Mr W. Girling-Butcher) said today that all the fires were lit maliciously or carelessly — “we believe maliciously.” He said the fires near Reefton might have been lit to promote deer browsing. “They were lit in places where you could expect new growth to draw deer into the open,” he said.

The original fire in the Tongariro Forest, which began five days ago, was prob-

ably caused by hunters leaving a campfire burning, he said. Five bulldozers and a helicopter are being used to contain it, and another two bulldozers moved in today in case they are needed. "We are consuming a lot of public money and valuable fuel needlessly,” Mr Girling-Butcher said. "If people exercised care we would not be in this stupid position.” The main Tongariro fire is threatening an adventure camp, a Victoria University experimental station, and 2500 acres of forest planted by the Forest Service. It is also threatening a remnant of virgin forest, and a helicopter spent all yesterday trying to kill that flank of the fire.