SPARKS BORUE BY HIGH WINDS

Evening Star, Issue 25714, 11 February 1946, Page 4

SPARKS BORUE BY HIGH WINDS

WIDESPREAD BLAZES SITUATION IN HAWKE'S BAY HASTINGS, February 10. Widespread outbreaks of fires have blazed throughout Hawke's Bay over the week-end as a climax to months of rainless weather and the consequent drying of pastures and other vegetation and lack of water._ Smoke from scores of fires, some, big and some small, obscures the sky. Exceptionally high winds prevailed yesterday afternoon and last night, and this added to the menace as sparks were carried into the tinderdry vegetation and began fresh outbreaks. Thousands of country people with improvised equipment, mainly wet sacks and beaters, were engaged for long hours lighting the flames and endeavouring to prevent their spread. The most serious loss is at Ashley, Clinton, where fire secured a hold yesterday afternoon in the State forest in the foothills of the Ruahine ' Ranges. Two thousand acres of nearly matured timber were lost by midnight, as it was impossible to control the blaze in the fierce wind. A further forestry area is in the danger zone, but with the wind in its present quarter it is safe. Unless rain falls in heavy volume, however, there is no possibility of removing the menace entirely. Half a crop of 160 acres of wheat on the Tiffen estate, in the Elsthorpe district, which was almost ready to be harvested, was destroyed. . , Hutchinson's Bush scenic reserve at Puketitiri was destroyed 'by a fire which has been_ burning in that district for a fortnight. The reserve was among the most picturesque in the Dominion, and covered an area of 60 to 70 acres. Strenuous efforts 6aved the homestead of a Puketitiri settler, Mr W. Turner, from being burned. The fire in the Puketitiri area is now being blown into the ranges, but if the wind turns the Puketitiri township will be threatened. House property and farm buildings throughout Hawke's Bay have had close calls, the problems confronting the fire-fighters being lack of an adequate water supply and_ high winds. This afternoon and evening, Jiowever, the wind has not been strong, which has aided in keeping the fires under control. Though constant vigilance is necessary, only rain will remove the danger entirely.