Stock killed as fire destroys farmland

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 1

Stock killed as fire destroys farmland

By

JEFF HAMPTON

Fire-fighters and soldiers kept vigil near Oxford last night after a big blaze had killed stock, threatened at least two houses, and destroyed about 40ha of farmland.

Fears are held that the fire might flare again and threaten the Eyrewell forest.

“Everything is tinder dry — we just hope that it isn’t north-west today,” said an Oxford resident.

More than 300 firefighters, soldiers from Burnham Military Camp, and residents combined to fight the blaze. At one stage, the fire threatened a farmhouse on Mr lan Kofoed’s property, about Bkm southwest of Oxford, but it was saved by a determined effort from firefighters. Stock on Mr Kofoed’s property and- on Mr Grahame Richards’ neighbouring property was killed.

One man said that 200 ewes and a number of goats had been burnt when they were trapped by the fast-moving fire. Some stock had to be destroyed. The fire was reported about 12.40 p.m., prompting a big turnout of rural fire brigades. Many were attending their second big fire of the day as they had already fought a grass fire at Greendale, near Darfield. At least 15 engines and

water tankers were sent to the fire. The blaze started at Burnt Hill, near the inter-

section of Thongcaster Road and Browns Rock Road. It was believed that the fire started after a mower

on the back of a tractor hit a rock, creating a spark, said the Christchurch assistant fire commander, Mr Alan Osmond. A north-west wind was blowing at. times and water had to be taken by tanker to many firefighters. A man said last evening that the fire had cut a swathe through one of the properties, leaving little standing. “The fences have all gone and everything is destroyed,” he said.

A haybarn on one of the properties was also razed. According to a Fire Service spokesman in Christchurch, the blaze had affected paddocks, scrub, and about 12ha of trees. The fire took several hours'to bring under control. Fire-fighters kept a close watch on scrub along the Waimakariri riverbank as there were fears that the fire, could take hold there.

Fifty soldiers from Burnham Military Camp were called in to help the fire-fighters. They were to

stay overnight to keep a watch on hot spots. The Salvation Army set up a mobile canteen for the fire-fighters.

Volunteer brigades from Oxford, Cust, Sheffield, Coalgate, Kirwee, Darfield, Rolleston, Springfield, Rangiora, and Burnham fought the fire. Brigades from other areas were brought in to cover for them. Some of the brigades had already fought a fire which started in a pea field by Clintons Road, Greendale. Senior Fireman Kevin Gray, of the Dunsandel Volunteer Fire Brigade, said that that fire was

probably started by a spark from a header working in the paddock. The fire spread into another, paddock, scrubland, and some felled trees. “There was a lack of water and the wind was blowing,” said Mr Gray. Engines from five rural brigades and a number of tankers were at the scene. The fire was brought under control about 3 p.m., some 90 minutes after it was reported. Forest fire risk, page 3