FIRE AT MAHANA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 4

FIRE AT MAHANA

ORCHARDS DAMAGED

SMALL PINE BLOCKS BURNT OCT SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AVERTED What might have been a fire.of very serious consequences to Mahana and further afield was averted by the timely arrival of many helpers with firefighting equipment, though not before some severe damage had been done to orchard properties and small pine blocks. Originating from a burned pine stump near Mr G. Thomson’s home and fanned by the strong south-west gale, the fire quickly travelled down Dominion road towards Mr T. Field's property, endangering his packing shed. This was saved by the use of the orchard spray plant. The fire jumped the road in two places, setting alight to Messrs Field and Salmond’s orchard boundaries. Before these outbreaks could be successfully dealt with considerable damage had been done to the apple trees on the headlands and in some cases trees were scorched to a depth of five rows <3O yards), so intense was the heat. MiField is a heavy loser in this respect. The crop from 40 trees will be useless. Also a valuable pine block was burnt out. A large band of firefighters was soon on the scene and with trucks carrying tanks of water as near to the fire as possible, and by the use of bucket brigades and stirrup pumps the fires were brought under control. Many local residents assisted as as well as men from Harakeke (Tasman Forests Ltd) and Mapua (McKee’s Lime and Chemical Works). The efforts of everyone probably saved -a large portion of the Moutere Hills being burnt out. The outbreak emphasises the need for great care in lighting fires during this dry spell. FIRF. NEAR RAILWAY TRACK A gorse and grass fire, thought to have originated from a spark from the engine of the 4.30 train, broke out alongside the railway line tfi upper St. Vincent street shortly after 5 o’cloc*k

yesterday afternoon. A fairly large area of gorse between the line and the far end of the street was burnt. The Nelson Fire Brigade put out the blaze by beating and the use of bucket pumps.