DAMAGING FIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1947, Page 10

DAMAGING FIRE

HOSPITAL ENDANGERED AT X WELLINGTON DRY CONDITIONS IN NORTH (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. The most damaging bush fire to strike Wellington for many years swept a large plantation on Mount yictoria to-day. All available machines, firemen, voluntary workers, and police were called in to fight the fire. j. •■-■;• ’ • Fanned by a fresh southerly wind, the flames roared upward in two areas and heavy property losses are likely. Big plantations of 20-year-old pine and ornamental eucalyptus trees were left blackened stumps. Rolling clouds of brown smoke obscured the sun in the business area of Wellington shortly after midday. A fire in a gully below the Ewart Hospital endangered both the Ewart and the fever hospitals. Flames went within 10 feet of the Ewart Hospital, and within about 10 yards of the nurses’ home section of the fever hospital. • . A fire of similar proportions, although not so dangerous to property, started :at the same time from a rubbish fire in Hataitai Park, and swept up a hill through gorse and pine, and gum trees, leaving a completely blackened and devastated area. An. order prohibiting the use of steam-operated log haulers and bush locomotives in the main trunk bush area between Te Awamutu and Kariori, just south of Ohakune, was issued by the Government to-night, because of the extremely dangerous fire hazard in that area, and the deterioration in the situation during the last 24 hours. The area to which-the prohibition applies embraces the counties of Waipa, Otorohanga, Kawhia,. Waitomo. Ohura, Taumarunui, Kaitieke, Waimarino, and part of the Taupo County south of the lake. A prohibition is also imposed on the lighting of all fires in the open in this area.