Forest Service ‘could cope’ with big fire

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 21

Forest Service ‘could cope’ with big fire

If Canterbury were to have a big rural fire, the Forest Service should be well equipped. Stations throughout the Canterbury Conservancy had the manpower and equipment to tackle a fire such as the recent one near Waiouru. said the senior fire control officer. Mr Win Leef. in Christchurch. The Waiouru fire started when gusty winds caused a controlled burn-off on a sheep station, about 30km north-east of Taihape. to get out of hand. The scrub fire covered 256 sq km. equivalent to the total area between Kaiapoi. Lyttelton, and Islington.

The Canterbury conservancy is from the Clarence River in the north to the Ida Range in the south and west to the Main Divide. Forest service stations within the conservancy each have a trained fire-fighting team and equipment for support in other areas. The

equipment includes about 56 fire engines, trailers, and tractors. 113 pumps and hose, and about 17 monsoon buckets. Help for a big fire may be sought from neighbouring stations, which could provide extra equipment. Mr Leef said.

A specialised high-country fire team based in Christchurch would play a main role in the manpower needed for an emergency. It comprises 53 people who have mountaineering or tramping backgrounds.

It was formed in 1970 after a fire which destroyed more than 1600 hectares of the Mount Cook National Park, above the Liebig Range. After it. the Forest Service decided to establish an elite, highly trained force of mobile fire-fighters who could attack any fire in the high country. The team would also relieve trained forestry staff from the stations who could not be spared from the low-

land forests, he said.

Other help would be sought from the Army, and possible the Air Force Mr Leef estimated that about 150 men would be sought. They would then be divided into teams and led by highcountry team members.

Help from the Fire Service would also be sought.

"Fire Service members are not trained initially in the use of rural fire-fighting equipment but they participate in the annual training exercises run by the Forest Service," said Mr Leef. "However, under normal circumstances we tend not to use Fire Service members if possible because that would be dragging them away from the urban areas where they may be needed."

"There is every possibility that a fire of the magnitude of the one at Waiouru could happen in Canterbury but I feel we have the facilities to cope." said Mr Leef.