TEN PERISH IN VICTORIAN BUSH FIRES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 February 1932, Page 5

TEN PERISH IN VICTORIAN BUSH FIRES.

MILL STAFFS TRAPPED BY FLAMES. FATE OF SMALL TOWNSHIP CAUSES ANXIETY. (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Saturday. Ten people lost their lives and at least three were critically burned and many suffered minor burns in bush fires which swept through the Powelltown and Noojee districts. Six -were (burned to death when O’Shea's mill, one of the largest m Victoria, was swept by fire. They were: James Vague, Johu O’Shea (36), i Wilfred Richards, John Schultz, Edwaid Miller (25), James Maloney _ \ 66 )' O’Shea was the owner of the mill ana the others were mill workers. George Alfred Cook (62) and his son, Ronald Cook (14), lost their lives when trapped in blazing grass neax Warragul. . r „s There are also dead John KnopP vf) and his son. They were burning off a “break,” when they were trapped »y a mass of flames due to the wind changing suddenly. Another son, Walter, was severely burned. , ■ There were ten persons in 0 Shea s 'mill when the fire swept down on them. The flames were so intense that voluateers were unable to approach. 111 e party made a dash for the river near:by in pairs. Mrs O’Shea and a m Vj worker escaped, but six were trapped bv the fires approaching from another quarter. Their charred bodies were found later.

Two others are in a critical condition. Twenty-five men, women and chud" ren were trapped at Freeman Bros, mill at Longwarry and were rescued after a great -fight with the flames. Anxiety is felt for the safety of 2 residents of the small sawmilling township of Fumina. Communication _bo- ■ twejen Fumina and the surrounding 'towns is cut off. Rain saved 'the towns of Walhalia and Warburton. In both places tnc residents had packed their valuables -ready for flight.