LIGHT RAIN FALLS IN VICTORIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 January 1939, Page 5

LIGHT RAIN FALLS IN VICTORIA

70 DEAD AND 1500 HOMELESS REFUGEES PROPERTY DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £1,500,000 ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY DEMANDED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MELBOURNE, 1 6th January. Light to heavy rain at almost all danger points early today ended, temporarily at least, Victoria’s bush fire peril, but a thorough drenching is needed to extinguish the smouldering trees which will otherwise burn for weeks. To-day’s grim reckoning shows that the fires have left a destructive wake of at least 70 dead and 1500 homeless refugees. Thirty-eight persons are now known to have lost their lives when the fires were at their height on Friday night. It is too early yet to assess the damage to property, but estimates place it at £1,500,000. Led by the Government, various organisations are mobilising the supply of urgent relief food, clothes and shelter for the homeless for at least three weeks. Medical opinion is that the sudden change to cool weather after the scorching heat of last week is likely to produce a new danger to the refugees of deferred shock. At least 20 victims are in hospitals, some in critical condition and suffering from severe burns. One man died at Kyneton hospital of shock after burns. Two men are still missing. To-night more than £55,000 was subscribed for relief funds opened by the Lord Mayor, newspapers and radio stations. Already 50 van loads of provisions and relief supplies have been sent to the stricken areas. Red Cros3 headquarters’ staff of 50 are co-operating with hundreds of volunteers in organising relief distributions. The Premier, Mr Dunstan, intends making a tour of the burnt-out districts to ascertain the best way for the Government to organise restoration.

Sadly many homeless refugees from the districts nearer Melbourne went today to survey the ruins of what was once their pride. Many dairy-farmers, whose homes represented their life’s work, found them heaps of ashes among blackened wastes. Sifting among the ruins failed to reveal any trace of articles of value. Most refugees are still horror struck and dazed and unable fully to realise thrir loss. The rain to-day only saddened them more, realising that had it come last week, life would have gone on as usual for them. There was an ironic contrast in the country to-day when cars in x.i ny places went plashing through the mud where fires raged yesterday. Amateur radio operators with portable transmitting and receiving sets gave valuable services in maintaining ccmmunicatioi in the fire areas. A check made to-day shows that 73 towns and townships to a greater or less extent suffered damage. A total of 1088 houses, 50 mills and 35 other buildings valued at £421,000, not counting their contents, were destroyed. The value of the forests burnt is conservatively estimated at £1,000,000. Towns which were the worst losers were Dromana (43 houses, valued at £10,750), Rubicon (100 houses valued at £25,000), Woods Point (143 houses valued at £33,750), Warrandyke (100 houses valued at £25,000), Noojee (40 houses valued at £21,000), Omeo (20 houses and 11 shops valued at £20,000), Healesville (11 houses and four guest houses valued at £26,000). A demand is now made for a Royal commission to inquire into the cause of the fires and methods for preventing their repetition. Forestry experts at the Canberra science congress have decided to agitate for a conference of all States to investigate measures for the prevention of bush fires.