Scout tents burnt

Press, 13 October 1987, Page 1

Scout tents burnt

By

NEIL CLARKSON

A deliberately lit fire has destroyed about M tents owned by the Bryndwr scout group aad badly damaged a storage shed which may coot- SIMM to re*/ group is able to buy cheaper Second-hand ones. The secretary-treasurer of

the scout group committee, Mr Trevor Hayes, Said a substantial insurance shortfall was expected with both the tepts and shed; :•

“We have already done our fund-raising for the year but we will obviously have to look at ft again,” he said. Approaches might be made to local businesses and service groups for support The blaze appears to have been started outside one wall of the storage shed by. scraps of paper being set alight The fire burnt that wall, then crossed the roof before engulfing another wait The Totara scout district which covers the. north-west of Christchurch, had an expensive gas-cooking facility bn a trailer stored in the shed which escaped damage. The scout den escaped the fire and will continue to be used by a Kea dub, two cub packs, two scout troops and a venturer group. . Mr Hayes said the groups had also lost ropes and several teat poles. Pots, pans, billies and other utensils Were not damaged, but might need to be cleaned. ' He said the den was sited on a Westholme Street reserve, which backed on to the Main North railway line and the Waimairi School.

“They (the arsonists) could have got in without being seen,** he said. ;

Mr Hayes said the group had been very fortunate ta the pa& encountering only slight vandalism. ■■■/<<■■ " ' ■

The last damage to the property was about three .years ago, when ' windows were smashed. ’■ . ■ .