RAGING FIERCELY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 141, 11 December 1926, Page 9

RAGING FIERCELY

FIRES CAUSE HUGE DAMAGE

MANY NARROW ESCAPES,

(Received 11th December, 11 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day

Bush fires in the west and- southern districts continue to rage fiercely. In many cases they are out of control, but men and women are fighting the flames valiantly under extremely trying conditions. Many narrow escapes from loss of life are reported. One, man at Bothungra was trapped and his clothes burnt off him.' He is in a critical condition. Children attending the Daroobalgie school were endangered, but womenfolk held the flames in check until assistance arrived from Forbes. Fires raging around Alectown threaten to destroy the town. Fires in the southern districts covered extensive areas, but owing to the dislocation of communications their full extent is not known. Settlers and their wives in the vicinity of Gundagai left their homes with their children and a few valuables. Several dwellings were burnt.

Fires around Goulburn are described as the worst in the history of the district. Many homesteads were burnt and much stock destroyed. The township of Marulan is surrounded by flames whose heat is so great that fighters are unable to approach within a hundred yards of them. Food supplies and firefighters are being rushed from Goulburn. At Tarlo and Roslyn tho position is also serious. As much as 10s an hour is being offered in some parts for fire-fighters. The town of Coolamon was saved after a desperate struggle.

During yesterday the fire brigades attended 99 fires in the suburbs of Sydney, a record. The maximum temperature was 103.9 degrees, which was the highest temperature recorded this season. A southerly during the night brought a slight:,relief, but conditions are still very muggy.

A continuanco of the hot weather is predicted.