FURTHER OUTBREAKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 31 January 1939, Page 5

FURTHER OUTBREAKS

BUSH FIRES IN VICTORIA

NUMBER OF HOUSES DESTROYED NO LOSS OF LIFE lU.J* A.-B.v Electric Teleerapb-Copyrightl MELBOURNE. 30th January. Bush fires which broke out near Solly, in the Dandenong Ranges yesterday were fanned by a strong wind to- 1 day and swept upon Selby township, destroying 10 houses. The fire is burning in an area containing many holiday week-end homes belonging to Melbourne residents, and . many small townships. Fire-fighters saved the remainder of Selby. , While women and children sheltered in the brick St. Andrew’s Church, the flames burnt within a few yards of the building. The fire then swept towards Em- i erald, where two houses were burnt, then to Belgrave South, destroying 1 several houses before the fighters diverted it into an unsettled area, where it is still burning fiercely. No further damage is expected, as the wind has now dropped and a cool change, with some rain, has been forecasted. To-night the wind rose again, and the fire position in the Dandenong Ranges became more serious. The fire swept back upon Selby, completing the work of destruction in the Jownship by wiping out ten shops 1 and twenty more houses. The smaller township of Lockwood, near Selby, was . also wiped out.. These fires were unattended by danger to life, as all were . in accessible areas, but the property losses in many cases are serious. Reports were also being received ; to-night of a revival of fires in the , areas swept by the recent disaster. Lome is again in danger, while fires in the Otway Ranges, in the western ; part of the State, are raging fiercely. This area, however, is sparsely settled, but contains a large area of valuable forests.

ALL-NIGHT FIGHTS

MOST FIRES NOW UNDER CONTROL EXTENSIVE DAMAGE REPORTED (Received 31st January, 10.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. After all-night fights most of the fires were under control this morning. Extensive damage, however, was done in many places. Eleven houses were lost in the Otway district, and several in the Lome distirct. Many residents in the Selby district were treated for minor burns. There were several narrow escapes when flames swept down a hillside at Selby, many people taking shelter in open paddocks. A number of fires are burning near Warrnambool, where several homes were destroyed. Some mill employees near Colac saved themselves by sheltering in a dugout when fire destroyed the mill. Tanjil, the scene of a number of fatalities during the last fires, was again menaced, but the danger is now over. The township of Cobden was saved after a long fight.