FIRE AND ITS PROBLEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 April 1939, Page 3

FIRE AND ITS PROBLEMS

UNIFICATION OF CONTROL NEEDED GREATER DANGER IN DROUGHT TIMES (Tv, The Edi Lori Sir, —Soon after Christmas it was broadcast all over the world that Australia was in the throes of a bad drought. Forest fires broke out in all directions and. quickiy spreading over a wide area, caused the loss of valuable property and —worse still—human lives. In New Zealand deep sympathy was felt as the public listened to descriptions of the grim fight against death "What a ghastly thing a forest fire is,” said one. "They really ought to do something about those careless folk who set fire to the countryside,” said another. When the news came that the individual responsible for the terrible fire in Victoria had been sentenced to imprisonment the public appeared to consider the sentence just. What then? Not very long after New Zealand herself fell prey to a severe drought, and. it became evident that, unless care was exercised, our country would suffer from disastrous fires. With the Australian news fresh in the (mind it was hoped that its effect would have a deterring influence upon the thoughtless. Also, it was only reasonable to expect that, in view of the likelihood of a long drought, measures for dealing with fires would Jnave been thought out.

What exactly took place? Almost immediately a series of disastrous fires occurred all over New Zealand. So serious were they that the Government made a point of warning the public of the danger of fire-lighting in dry seasons, pointing out that most fires take place through somebody’s carelessness and giving a list of those that had occurred thereby in each province.

The Forest and Bird Protection Society issued a further grave warning in the story of an American citizen who (travelling with his wife and family, set 1 fire to thousands of acres of forest, without knowing it, owing to one carelessly flung cigarette. The moral is that this type of individual occurs in all countries.

What then? In spite of the drought getting worse and the knowledge that it was the severest that had been experienced for years, the fire-lighters went blissfully on. In our own province we nearly lost our waterworks reserve through a fire that should never have started and which, when started, should have been quickly extinguished.

Hard on the heels of this loss ol some 150 acres to the city came the news that, in the valley of Canaan hundreds of sheep had perished and farm property been damaged. To complete the story, news came through that one of New Zealand’s most lovely and historic spot, Tennyson Inlet was afire.

In addition to the above there have been innumerable fires which have never been mentioned. But the Nelson Fire Brigade have had a very busy time exterminating gorse and rubbish fires that have got out of hand. Indeed, one has only to walk round Nelson to realise how narrow have been the escapes, when one sees burnt patches which have reached to within a few feet of habitations. The story of these fires is nearly always the same—a cigarette dropped into a patch of dry undergrowth, or a rubbish-fire in the j backyard which fanned by a sudden gust of wind merrily leaps away and may end—anywhere. Then there arc the fires started by children, but in comparison they are not nearly so destructive as their seniors. But, by far the most serious are fires that arise though settlers burning on their land. In normal seasons this would be ail right provided sensible precautions are taken, but in the middle of a drought, such as we have just had, is simply asking for trouble. In dry seasons the sparks from grass fires have been known to carry three miles and this is how many a noble piece of forest has been lost. Daily the newspapers report the ignition of valuable bush or farmproperty and the wireless gives warning that the drought is likely to continue. But fires continue to be lit. Travellers by air see the countryside blazing in all directions. No sooner do the fire-fighters douse one fire than their services are needed elsewhere. But still the atmosphere pungent with smoke denotes that fresh burns are made. Those who approach the Dominion by sea see land through a smoke haze. “Are New Zealanders mad that they run such appalling risks when there is known to be a drought.” they ask. The answer I leave to the reader. There are however certain very clear conclusions to be derived from the present drought. 1. There must be unification of control if we are to fight fire successfully in tthe future. It is no good State officials carefully controlling the areas under their charge, if fire can enter from privately-farmed lands. There-

fore, both State and private properties should be dealt with as one from some central administration in each province. This would eliminate the danger from deserted farm-lands for whom no one is responsible, protect such sanctuaries as belong to departments that have no fire-fighting corps and assist City Councils who need stronger protective measures against fire. In times of drought this arises so suddenly and increases so rapidly that the only chance of extinction is to take action at once. In the city one can telephone for the fire-brigade, but in the country a fire may rage for days before it can be dealt with. Hence the need for a central organisation that can be called upon to take steps immediately. 2. This central administration must have the power to order all burning to i cease in times of severe drought, and ‘ regulate it whenever it is deemed adi vi.sable. At the height of a drought the » slightest spark will kindle a con- ■ flagration. The excuse. “If we don't burn now we shall not be able to burn at all,” is not worth the risk it may cn- ) tail, for—in the end —both farmer and ; public suffer. In limes of epidemic l travellers are forbidden to travel, or i Land at certain points, no matter how i inconvenient. But it is for the sake of 3 the welfare of the* nation, and if they 3 have the public welfare at heart they will acquiesece. The majority of New 1 Zealanders are like this. But unfor--3 tunately. there are a few who do not • care and for them there is no other - method than to make them realise that • fire-lighting is a very serious offence. 3 Thus we come to point number three. 3 3. The penalties for lighting fire should be revised and. if necessary - increased. Above all they should be 2 enforced, without which there is no • s point in threatening offenders

I*, is too late to start taking precautions when drought is upon us these measures should have been taken before. Or to use the old adage, “A stitch in time saves nine.” And here |is where the use of a central administration would come in. First of all to see that there were adequate fire-light-ing appliances to hand. Nowadays small gorse and bracken fires can be stopped at the outset by means of light portable pumps containing strong chemicals, where beating only produces sparks which ignite elsewhere. Our waterworks reserve fire could have been largely minimised by such appliances. But such instruments are useless without men to handle them and here is where a central administration should have a list of lire-fighters who could be assembled without delay. The task of collecting assistance enables many a fire to reach uncontrollable dimensions for lack of a ready supply of man-power. 5. Expert knowledge is necessary to protect the country against outbreaks of fire. Before ever a fire occurs the danger of such an event should have been visualised and steps taken to avoid it. Here again is where a central administration v_an do very much better than individual effort. The problem of fire is one that very fev’ people study therefore we need experts who know how to cope with it One of the simplest methods is by means of making fire-brakes. We all know that, but there are right and wrong ways of doing it and such steps are useless unless the fire-brakes are kept clean year in and year out. Deserted farmlands ripe in rubbish are positive dangers to adjacent forest. Where possible they should be reaft'orestated. but if this is not possible it is often better to keep them hurt off than to allow them to be dangerzones. Milled areas? come under the same category. But it is necessary to go even further. In modern works on fire-fighting recommendations are made to buy up farms adjacent to important reserves —as for example where they imjynge upon a range of forest hills upon which a whole area of good farming land depends. This sounds very expensive, but what is the alternative? A denuded country provides food and shelter for no man. This problem of fire-prevention not simple, but enough has been said to show that it is a matter for experts and is cheaper in the end. In conclusion the reader will ask, is such administration as sketched above possible. The reply is yes, if the departments at present administering the land agree to support it. Unity is strength, or in the words of a witty writer. “Think of freckles, what a fine shade of tan they would produce if only they got together.”—l am etc. PERRINE MONCRIEFF. R.A.O.U. .Nelson, 15th April.