Police suspect arson in Hanmer fire

Press, 12 February 1981, Page 2

Police suspect arson in Hanmer fire

A fire that caused $5000j ; worth of damage to a prop-j erty 'near Hanmer Springs:l on Tuesday evening 'is < being treated by the police r as suspicous. Constable P. F. Gilfedder.. of Hanmer Springs, said that-1 a box of exploded matches 1 had been found at the scene i of the fire. He was anxious i io speak to two male cyclists who were seen near Hanmer Springs and at the i junction of the Hanmer Springs Road and the Lewis Pass highway. Constable Gilfedder said a - cyclist had been seen resting in the area. “I do not suspect the cycl- ( ists of starting the fire,--but jl they may be able to assist me with elements of the investigation such as traffic movements at the time,” he said.’. ' ,'C . ■ . The fire broke out at 7 p.m. on Medway, rhe property .of Messrs Noel and Rodney Vowles. It burned about 20. acres of land, destroying pine trees, highcountry grass and about 20 chains of fence. Quick action by the: Hanmer - ' Springs Volunteer Fire brigade and helicopters brought .the fire under control quickly and prevented it from spreading. 1

; The property burnt was near the Waiau'JFerrV bridge, in the Waiau Ferry' cutting alongside the main road. ..The local fire... brigade, farmers ■ and Hanmer Springs residents have been kept busy fighting fires since early on Monday morning. v : A fire that broke out at Lochiel station 10km west of the Hanmer Springs Road junction at 6 a.m. on Monday, has not caused any trouble since flaring up again briefly on Tuesday morning. It is thought a i cigarette butt-thrown from a i car may have started the | fire. However late vesterdav afternoon, stand-by fire crews. were at the scene of both' fires because of the high humidity in the area and erratic north-westerly winds. The crews were made' up from the Hanmer Springs Volunteer Fire Brigade and the farming community. Constable Gilfedder said I few local people had' had i much sleep since the two i fires had broken out. Fire sirens and helicopters had disturbed sleep and there were many weary fire fighters. _