Staggering Cost Of Victoria’s Bush Fires

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1939, Page 8

Staggering Cost Of Victoria’s Bush Fires

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. / . (Received 11 a,m.) } MELBOURNE, January 29. £* Only now are reasonably accurate '• estimates of the cost to Victoria of the : recent bush fires becoming available. Experts’ estimates of the value of the timber in the fire-swept areas ’reach the. staggering total of £6,000,000, but it is thought that, by special methods, about half of it may be saved, /thus preserving the milling industry fpr at least 20 years. The preservation of damaged timber is likely to be attempted, either by , immediately cutting and dragging to water submerged dumps, or stacking in . dry dumps scientifically treated against pests. Either plan would be enormously costly, but the only alternative to virtual abandonment of the milling industry. A survey of insurance claims already lodged indicates that the total is likely to be £1,000,000. Five thousand claims are expected for the teplacement of houses, buildings, stock, furniture and personal effects. : The relief funds total £160,000, and more is coming in. Insurances cover ' about £350,000. ■ return of hot weather resulted in an outbreak of fire in the Dandenong tanges to-day, destroying four weekend houses. Several men had narrow escapes.