Rain needed for forest

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 1

Rain needed for forest

Heavy rain was needed to reduce the extreme fire risk at Eyrewell forest in North Canterbury, said a forestry officer last evening. The officer, Mr Neville Washbourne, said a watch would be kept at the forest overnight. The forest is about Bkm from the scene of a big fire which killed stock, threatened houses, and destroyed about 40ha of farmland near Oxford on Monday afternoon. The fire was regarded as a threat to the forest and fire-fighters worked hard to stop the blaze reaching scrub on the Waimakariri riverbank.

Forest staff were worried that a north-west wind yesterday afternoon might fan “hot spots” and rekindle the blaze. However, Mr Washbourne said last evening that the wind had died, which “took the pressure off.” “The fire risk has been extreme on and off for the last three weeks,” he said. “Things are very dry at the moment and it will take significant rainfall to change that.” The forest was closed to contracting crews and the public yesterday as a safety measure. Three fire engines and several water tankers were on

standby. Fifteen forestry staff helped to fight the fire at Oxford on Monday, and spent yesterday looking for “hot spots.” A forestry officer, Mr Bruce Henderson, said yesterday afternoon that it was fortunate a northwest wind had not been blowing during the fire at Oxford. Farmers whose property was damaged in Monday’s fire were yesterday counting the cost. A haybam was razed on one property, and 200 ewes as well as goats were burned, some fatally, on other properties.