FIRE AT BEACH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32672, 4 February 1946, Page 5

FIRE AT BEACH

COTTAGES MENACED WHANGAMATA TROUBLE LARGE AREA BURNT OUT Alt about 5 p.m. on Thursday last a fire that started approximately 100 yards to the north of the Whangamata Post Office and on the'eastern side of the road leading to the Port was observed from Ocean Beach. It was soon noticed to be spreading and travelling at considerable speed l towards the beach cottages situated 1 there and the residents .began- to shift their movable belongings to places of safety on the sand hillfe. Fanned by a fresh westerly breeze the fire swept down on the houses and it was only by the strenuous work of the residents and visitors in combating the flames that the cottages were saved from destruction. 'Some wonderfully good saves- were effected and several houses were completely surrounded by fire, one place especially, being approached to within 10 or I's feet on one side and on the other side the fire was so close that the paint was blistered. The Forestry Department’s fire fighting- engin-a appeared on the scene and did good work, but the fire had- toj a great extent been diverted from the buildings before it arrived. The fire then spread out to the north and south and burned fiercely for some time. As far as can be ascertained no material damage wa& done to any building, but an area of perhaps 100 or 200 acres was completely burnt out, and while the pine plantation on the north-west side of the Port road was not damaged, a great number of trees- planted along the road to the Ocean Beach and round many of the sections have been destroyed. By about 7.36 p.m. all immediate danger had passed, but the fire could be seen burning for about an hour longer.