GRASS FIRE DANGERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 48, 27 February 1939, Page 8

GRASS FIRE DANGERS

Though the weather is cooler today, rain has not yet come to put an end to the growing anxiety over the dry state of the district and the danger of grass and scrub fires. These have been frequent round Wellington in the past few weeks during which no rain has fallen. At the weekend the hills beyond the eastern shores of the harbour were obscured in a pall of smoke drifting down seaward from such fires in the Hutt Valley and beyond. Similarly there were grass fires on the hills to the south and west of Wellington. In several instances the Fire Brigade was called out. Altogether there have been 71 calls to deal with such fires since the beginning of February. In a number of instances the fires have occurred at night, suggesting that they may have been due to the carelessness of smokers. So far the damage has not been very serious, but the brigade has had its hands full. With each day of fine weather, the danger becomes greater, Mot only to house property that may be in line of a fire, but also to the many fine plantations of trees which have grown up round Wellington in recent years and have added much to the amenities of the landscape. It is incumbent therefore on everybody with a sense of citizenship to exercise the greatest care to. avoid starting fires in the grass, above ali where the potential' dangers are such as they are today.