Coast drying out

Press, 27 December 1980, Page 4

Coast drying out

The fire, hazard is increasing rapidly or. the West Coast after nearly a fortnight of soaring temperatures. including 29 degrees in the. glacier region on Christmas day. The duty officer tor the Forest Service in Hokitika yesterday ■ (Mr B. J. Gilbertson) said that the whole region was drying out, “but it is increasing more markedly in the Grey valley at present than we would like.” At Totara Flat in the Grey valley it was 25 degrees at 1 p m. yesterday, and the same temperature was recorded at Reeftonon. Christmas Day. The threat was being reduced in south Westland by a slight breeze, but it was drying the countryside. The Hokitika volunteer fire brigade was out for four hours . from 10.30 p.m. yesterday -• fighting , a fire which spread-through scrub

near the Hokitika airport. One of two pockets were still burning fitfully, but because the areas were well off the road, any flare-ups would have to be handled by the Forest Service fire tenders, which carried water tanks. Mr Gilbertson said that some Forest Service staff and their families had reported fire outbreaks while travelling in the district, but the department would appreciate more reports from the public. Every telephone exchange had a list of officers on duty during the holiday period. A telephone call to any of the exchanges would result in the caller being connected with the duty officer for the area. ' In Greymouth yesterday, the temperature reached 25 deg at 11 am., and rose to 27deg at 3 pan. 1