FOREST FIRES MENACE.
PRECAUTIONS FOR SUMMER.
AEROPLANES AS “SPOTTERS.’
SYDNEY, Sept. 23. The lesson of Blade Sunday in February last, when many people were burned to death in bush fires in the Noojee district of Victoria and much property damage was done, has been impressed upon the forest authorities in A .special conference has been in session m Melbourne to devise ways and means to combat the summer fire peril, and some eminently practical suggestions have been macie and .adopted. One of the most novel—at ,anv rate for Australia—was made by Captain 11. j; Darkin,. managing director of a commercial aviation company who addressed the conference on the ’possibilities of aeroplanes an wireless telephones as an aid to. spotting hush fires. o. >» “In Canada, and the United States, said Captain Lirkin, “aerial fire patrols have been in use for some years Working m con]unction with aMgnaU around organisation with wireless equipment, they have been instrumen - al in preventing large losses of tim-be through forest fires. The ravages of hush fires in Australia have been very serious in recent years, and there is no doubt that a few aeroplanes patrollin„ the danger zones would immediately locate outbreaks as soon as they stared, and before thev had reach«l serious proportions. Expert fire-fighters could hoi taken aloft in aircraft to control the operations of those engaged on the ground. A bird’s eye view of the surroundings would enable an ex perienoed man to make the best use of his ground forces, as he would be able to see at a glance the layout of the district, the nearest natural or artificial firebreaks, and the proximity of valuable property A The suggestion of Captain Larlan appealed. to the Civil Aviation department, which immediately published figures showing the result of such aeria spotters m the United States and Canada. At the same time, the department, pointed out that, as far as Victoria.* was concerned, one of the ditnculties confronting am aeroplane patrol service was the lack of suitable bases. Because there are so many waterways in the forests of Canada, the aeroplams patrolling there are fitted with floats. They are thus able to land on the water, and the difficulty of &sta.blishing convenient bases is averted, tatid, the idea has appealed to the forest conservation authorities and, despite ear y difficulties, it is probable that Victoria will have an aeroplane fire-spotting service during the dangerous summer months, if not in the approaching hot season, probably in the succeeding one.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 October 1926, Page 2
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414FOREST FIRES MENACE. Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 October 1926, Page 2
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