BLAZE AT ISLAND BAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 157, 31 December 1940, Page 6

BLAZE AT ISLAND BAY

FIRE IN GORSE

NO PROPERTY DAMAGE

A fire which swept through a large area of dry gorse on the hills to the east of Island Bay last night and this morning kept a number of firemen busy, and although no property was damaged, the flames made a fine show for over 12 hours. Fires in this large area of gorse are not unusual, and yesterday's was burning for some time before the brigade was called about 5 p.m. Two engines, a van, and a truck containing a relief crew arrived from the Wellington South and Miramar stations and another relief turned out from the Central station at 3 a.m. The last engine ,did not leave the scene until sunrise this morning. At ono stage the fire approached the Salvation Army Eventide Home at the top of Mersey Street, and caused some uneasiness but the brigadesmen quickly averted any possible danger.

A fairly strong southerly wind drove the fire through the gorse at high speed and consequently there was an unusually large cloud of smoke which drifted low over the suburbs to the north. The main advance of the fire appeared to be well in hand during the evening, but the flames crept back against the wind and presented a fireworks display that attracted a great deal of attention from residents of Island Bay.