TO FIGHT BUSH FIRES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 97, 20 January 1944, Page 4

TO FIGHT BUSH FIRES

Duty Assigned To E.P.S.

E.PjS. personnel in certain areas vulnerable to scrub and bush fires have beeh notified by the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Wilson, that they are to assume full responsibility for fire-fighting. The Minister said yesterday that he had advised chairmen of local E.P.S. organizations that in districts where there are no fire-fighting organizations, such as exist in forest fire districts and certain State forests and in city and other local body communities, they are to assume full responsibility for firefighting in the districts under their control and to instruct OffiJP-S. squads in their districts that they must be prepared to fight any fire that may occur. Any ciizen unable to cope with a fire must immediately notify the nearest E.P.‘S. fire warden, who would endeavour to arrange for a local farmer, with assistance if necessary, to quell the outbreak. Failing that, the. E.P.S. squad must endeavour to do so in a body. It this in turn was inadequate, the L.P.S. squad leader should arrange for the nearest forest officer to be notified, and if all local attempts to put the fire out arc insufficient, the army should be called upon for assistance if any camp was within the vicinity.