HEAT WAVE AND BUSH FIRES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 109, 1 February 1929, Page 12

HEAT WAVE AND BUSH FIRES

GREAT DAMAGE IN NEW SOUTH WALES ONE DEATH REPORTED . Sydney, January 31. Fierce heat prevailed again throughout New South Wales yesterday. The maximum temperature in Sydney at 1 o’clock was 100 degrees. It was appreciably hotter inland. Everything is dried up, and vegetables are very scarce. Farmers and pastoralists are becoming alarmed owing to shortage of fodder and water for householders. O’Connell Street, in the Hurstville suburb, to-day had an exciting time. Forty homes were threatened with destruction by a fire which commenced in the adjoining scrub, ignited several verandas, and travelled with amazing rapidity. The occupants evacuated every house. The police and firemeiu by herculean efforts, saved them. They also removed an invalid pensioner bedridden, whose home was totally destroyed. ' Bush fires are raging from Gosford up the North Coast. Much damage has been done. Two houses were destroyed at Belmont and five at Tarcoma, where the residents fought all day to preserve their homes. Fires were responsible for terrific heat throughout the northern district. At least one death resulted. Thomas Cook, 19, collapsed and died at Kearsley. Bush fires threaten to destroy the Gosford racecourse.