Houses saved from fire

Press, 9 February 1982, Page 1

Houses saved from fire

Armed with only sacks and shovels, volunteer firemen and local residents halted a raging grass fire less than 300 metres from two farmhouses off the Gore Bay Road, near Domett, North Canterbury, yesterday. Running before a strong north-westerly wind, the blaze had also threatened to engulf outbuildings and stock.

The fire swept over about SOha (60 acres) of grass and scrub, and destroyed a small plantation and several power poles. One appliance and a water tender from the Cheviot Volunteer Fire Brigade were on hand, but the water supply ran out at the height of the blaze. The fire was put out with sacks and shovels. It is believed to have started in a rubbish dump. Country fire brigades were kept busy throughout the day fighting grass and stubble fires on the tinder-dry farmlands of Canterbury and North Canterbury'.

A 20-acre paddock and a shelter belt were burnt along the main railway line near the Glasnevin Straight, north of Amberley. A 10-acre paddock of stubble “went up” off the Main North Road, just north of the Ashley River Bridge. There were several other fires, but no reports of stock losses or damage to buildings.

The fire risk in Canterbury forests remains extreme. Two forests — Eyrewell and Balmoral — have been 32 days without even the lightest rain.