SERIOUS GRASS FIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 18 April 1939, Page 6

SERIOUS GRASS FIRE

' FOUR MARLBOROUGH SHEEP RUNS INVOLVED | SETTLERS SPEND AN ANXIOUS NIGHT ! FORTUNATE CHANGE OF WIND MJnited Frew Association) BLENHEIM. This Day. Four sheep-runs at Hillersden, 35 Miles from Blenheim, were involved—at least two seriously—in a grass fire which broke away yesterday afternoon, and spread with alarming rapidity. Fortunately the outbreak was practically entirely confined to the hills, but the settlers spent an anxious night fighting to prevent the flames coming down on to the fiats where grave damage could have been caused. They were helped considerably by a change in the wind which turned in the evening to the south, and tended to blow the blaze back to the hills. This morning the weary fire fighters returned from their all-night battle to report that their effort had been successful. and the fire had been extinguished. As far as can be ascertained the fire broke away on the Stanhope property occupied by R. B. McLennan, about midday yesterday, but did not assume serious proportions till later in the afternoon. The settlers were not long in gathering, but by the time they had concentrated on the hills the wind had swept the fire along through the gullies and over the ridges from Stanhope to Wantwood, owned by G. Neville, and Hartley Hills, owner by F. L. Murray. At the same time it spread in the opposite direction from Stanhope towards J. Barry's property slightly to the north. At one stage the fire had a front of about four miles, and extended in from the hills about a mile. Much of the area, however, consists of gullies so that the acreage of actual pasture destroyed may not exceed 1500. There is no information regarding stock losses, but there is a distinct possibility that these will be severe.