Nor’wester saves homestead

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 1

Nor’wester saves homestead

The north-westerly wind so often the bane of firefighters in the Canterbury high country saved the historic Lake Coleridge homestead from destruction yesterday. A raging tussock fire had advanced to well within a kilometre of the homestead when it was driven back up a valley by the nor’wester, said Mr John Murchison from the homestead last evening.

' “The whole . lot would have gone if it had not been for the wind,” he said. An estimated 150 volunteer firemen and local people fought the blaze, which had swept over about 40 ha of hill country before it was put out late yesterday afternoon. Lake Coleridge station borders the western shore of the lake.

Mr Murchison said he had been crutching sheep about 2 p.m. when the fire started on Kaka Hill, behind the homestead.

“Everybody pitched in. We had about 150 beaters there at the finish. It was a tremendous effort by everybody round here, and we are really grateful,” he said.

A grader had been working near where the fire started, but it was not known whether - the machine had started the fire.

■ ' Water was dumped on to the flames by a helicopter from Whirlwide Helicopters, Ltd, at Ashburton, using a monsoon bucket which had been picked up at Methven.