SWEPT BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 13

SWEPT BY FIRE.

AUSTRALIAN BUSH ABLAZE.

MAN BURNED TO DEATH.

TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES. Disastrous bush fires, which involved, iu one instance, loss of life, and in others injuries to persons by burning, and considerable depredations to stock, property, .and crops, Svvept through large areas in the western fringe of the wheat belt of Western Australia, recently, and through tho south : west portion of the State. At Northam a fire which was caused by a spark from the engine of a chaffcutter swept towards another fire which had broken out sorno miles distant. Over four square miles of country were devastated, and hundreds of volunteers endeavoured to fight the flames. Many acres of valuable feed land were destroyed, and at one farm several horses were burned to death as they endeavoured to force a way througli the fence to escape the flames. At another farm, a determined effort was made to save a haystack, but the rapid approach of the fire rendered this impossible. The workers fled before the flames, but three men, Messrs. F. 0. Mutter, 11. Hicks, and A. Manning, took refuge near some rocks. The change in the wind swept the flames over them, and all were severely burned. They managed to make their way to a motor-car, and were eventually taken to hospital, whore Mr. Mutter, who came from South Australia a few years ago, died. His companions were also in hospital. Other fires raged through the group settlement areas nua- 1 Denmark.

Thrilling reports of firo-fighting and narrow escapes were received. A wonderful spectacle could be witnessed after nightfall, when giant trees, ablaze to a height of more than 200 ft., covered the hills with columns of fire. In the Bridgetown district many sheds and homes were saved only after strenuous battles. Tho Yornup timber mill, owned by Messrs. Bunniug Brothers, was almost completely destroyed. Trapped in Blazing Forest.

Orchardists suffered heavily, the hot wind bringing fruit down from the trees in thousands. Tho telephone service between Perth and country towns in the affected area was disorganised, and railway bridges in the Newlgalup district were burned to the water's edge. Five mill huts at the Argyle timber mill, near Donnybrook, were destroyed, together with sheds, fences, and a motorcar nearby. A residence at Greenbushes, owned by Mrs. Groth, was demolished, and the fire later swept in a southerly direction toward Bridgetown, destroying several camps and part of the State batteries.

A thrilling story of a narrow escape from death was related by Mrs. Savell, of Salmon Gums, who, with her two sons, aged 20 and 15 respectively, and her baby girl, was a passenger in a car driven from Bunbury by Gordon Millar, aged 19, of Victoria Park. The party left Bunbury about 11 a.m. for Perth. Shortly after passing Waroona the' travellers saw a big bush fire, but there was nothing to lead them to the belief that they were in any danger until they reached a spot where they found evidence that the flames had swept right to the edge of the road. They quickened their Eace, but shortly afterwards, turning a end in the road, the car plunged straight into a blazing forest. A Terrifying Ordeal.

The flames had leapt from the tops of the trees on the left side of the road to the tops of those on the other side. The heat -was intense, and the car was in constant danger of being struck by falling branches. The driver, unable to turn back, accelerated, and pressed through the blaze afc a terrific speed. Most of the travellers were dad in bathing costumes, and the fact that these were still damp from a recent swim probably saved them from receiving more serious injuries than they did. Ail the occupants of the car were burned, particularly on the arms and shoulders.

One member of the party tried to protect herself with a cushion. She succeeded for a while, but eventually had to discard this shield, because it had caught alight. Most of the other rugs and cushions were also caught by the flames, and one by one had to be thrown out. The danger of exploding petrol and the possibility of the car striking a fallen tree were additional perils wnich made the experience increasingly terrifying. The driver, with his hands severely burned, and his clothes smouldering, drove on unflinchingly until safety was reached.