DANGEROUS FIRE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 119, 13 February 1935, Page 10

DANGEROUS FIRE

District Turns Out to

Fight Flames For over three hours sixty residents of the district and relief workers from two unemployment camps near by fought a grass and scrub fire which broke out at Rauraati South, Paraparaunni, yesterday afternoon. The fire, which spread over ten acres, endangered six houses and did partial damage to another. The house damaged belongs to Mr. K. Baker. The fire entered at the back and worked toward the roof, and it was only after the strenuous efforts of combined residents and relief workers, who were handicapped by having little water, that part of the‘roof was taken off and the flames put out. The scrub fire also did damage to fences and burned down a shed owned by Mr. J. ML Cocksedge, of M'ellington. Because of the lack of water facilities in the district no fire brigade was called. Instead there was hardly a man or woman resident near by who did not turn out. Fire broke out in the area of scrub near the beach village at about 4 p.m.. and it began to spread fast. The Raumatj .South post office sent a call for assistance to the Paraparaumu post office, and from there the occupants of the Main Road and Beach Road single, men’s camps were told of the emergency. They responded in force, but, like the others they joined in beating'out the fire, all went without their tea as the fire was not under control until after 7 p.m.