GORSE ABLAZE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 5, 9 March 1937, Page 11

GORSE ABLAZE

YORK BAY FIRE

RESIDENTS' ALL-NIGHT TASK

Residents of York Bay had. an allnight task last night trying to keep a big gorse fire in check. At one stage there were 100 fire-fighters engaged. York Bay is not included in the district of any fire brigade, and as there is plenty of gorse and native bush in the vicinity of dwellings the residents have been forced to prepare themselves for any eventualities. The sound of a gong brought the firefighters to their task shortly after 8 o'clock. The fire had begun on the roadline near the Mahina Bay point, and soon swept up the spur. Firebreaks had been constructed prior to this between the gorse and the valuable native bush at the back of the bay, and the wisdom of this work—done on Saturday afternoons by working bees — ( was seen last night. About twenty men from York Bay, armed with slashers, switches, and spades, moved from point to Joint 'between the bush and the fire. A contingent from Mahina and Day's Bays, including the caretaker of Williams Park, Mr. W. Dick, gave valuable help. The Eastbourne Fire Brigade did not receive a call, but members of the brigade inspected the fire, and when it was found that it was not in Sunshine Bay the brigade was not summoned. The fire threatened two houses —a wooden one unoccupied for the evening, and a small stone one —but good work by the volunteer fire fighters saved them. The efforts of the fire fighters prevented the fire from getting, into Mahina Bay or into the native bush at the back of the bay, which merges with the Day's Bay Reserve. The fire burnt all night. It was found necessary to set on fire the gorse at the bottom of York Bay, as a precaution, so this morning there was no gorse left in York Bay. Fortunately the native bush was not touched. A thin spiral of smoke was still arising from the blackened hillside at .10 o'clock this morning, but later it disappeared.