Struggle With Fire At Otaika

Northern Advocate, 4 January 1946, Page 2

Struggle With Fire At Otaika

The final day of 1945 was a critical one for Ctaika. the church, school and hall buildings narrowly escaping being burnt by a fierce scrub fire, and a group of five homesteads also being endangered. The fire was first noticed by residents at about 2.30 p.m. sweeping over the ridge and being driven by a strong south-westerly gale towards the church.

The menfolk were absent with the exception of Mr. A. Magee, who commenced fire-fighting, while a few ladies removed contents of the church, including the organ, to safety. Telephone calls soon brought helpers, numbering about 20, from all directions. CHURCH PAINT BLISTERED By 3.30 p.m., with a non-abating gale fanning every fresh outbreak, the fire had swept around the church, blistering the paint, and on towards the school, where an outhouse found smouldering was beaten out. An outbreak across the road by the hall was checked. Three large treestumps, one under the Otaika bridge, were found afire, and quickly dealt with.

About 6 p.m. the fire, burning against the wind, reached the ridge further west, above the group of houses, the topmost of which belongs to Mr. Churches. Here it was effectively checked, the wind by this time having abated. By nightfall everything appeared safe enough for the men 1o depart. New Year's morning showed everything subdued, but in the afternoon, with the rising of a fanning wind, the homesteaders were again alarmed by an outbreak sweeping over the ridge towards the houses. Several hands beat out the flames and things again settled down peacefully by nightfall.