OIL WELLS BURNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 11

OIL WELLS BURNING.

CALIFORNIA!* FIELD.

LARGE NUMBER DESTROYED.

FIGHTING THE FLAMES.

WOMEN HELP THE MEN.

Australian and N.Z. Pres* Association. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17, Two disastrous fires arc raging un checked in California.

At Ventura one outbreak, running wild before a brisk wind, already has destroyed 05 oil wells, arid hopo has been abandoned for 49 others.

Fire-fighters made desperate attempts to savo the rich oilfield nt Ventura when the fire was three miles away. Hundreds of men with trucks along a 50-mile front tried to stem the line of fire as it swept down the slopes of Sulphur Mountain and advanced toward Ventura.

In spite of their supteme efforts to hold back the flames considerable damage was done to scattered oil equipment. Many refugees fled ftorn the area. Two hundred fire-fighters escaped death in the flames only by reason of a slight shift in the wind, which turned the fire back as it was about to trap them. Women and girls helped the boys and men, who have all been working for hours. The fire entered Wheeler Canyon and destroyed some valuable ranches. It also threatened the town of Santa Paula, which has been deserted.

Another roaring furnace is burning uncontrolled outside San Diego. The city's watershed is threatened.

Acres of land have been burnt, and numerous homes have been consumed. Hot winds from the Imperial Valley deserts are spreading the flames.

The sides of the hills are covered wUh the charred bodies of livestock, wild game and poultry.

The damage to date is estimated at £600,000.