LARGE GRASS FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 10

LARGE GRASS FIRE.

ABOUT TEN ACRES SWEPT.

RESERVE AT MORNINGSIDE

GLARE VISIBLE FOR MILES".

An area of over 10 acres in tho Morningside reserve, off Western Springs Road, was swept by fire on Saturday evening. The grass and gorse burned fiercely. The outbreak was visible from many parts of tho city and attracted* hundreds of spectators in motor-cars. The firo broke out about 7 p.m., and was not finally extinguished until after midnight. Tho flames were confined by tho Mount Albert brigade to tho reserve, no property being damaged. During the past few days a number of unemployed men had been engaged by the Mount Albert Borough Council cutting tho grass on this reserve, which was in places very high. As tho grass was cut it was left lying, the intention being to burn it off carefully under the supervision of tho brigade when tho area had been cleared. It was as dry as tinder, and provided good fuel for the flames, which, when they commenced to spread, quickly over-ran almost tho whole area.

Tho fire started among the cut grass on the ground and for a time was so small in extent that little notice was taken of it. It later obtained a hold in the standing grass and quickly began to sweep across the park. The brigade was then notified, but on arrival found that the flames had a strong hold. They were spreading toward the tennis courts and other improvements in one" corner of the park, and also toward the houses which line the south-eastern and southwestern boundaries of the area.

Realising the difficulty of attempting to extinguish so extensive a blaze, and also that 'the area was to have been cleared and burned, the firenten posted themselves along the boundaries and allowed the fire to burn toward them, checking it when it came within a dangerous distance of property. As the flames reached the edge of the rough area, they were suppressed, until by 12.30 a.m. the firo had been completely beaten out without damage to the surrounding fences. The glare attracted notice all over the city and suburbs, the Mount Albert fire station receiving telephone inquiries as to the nature of the fire all the evening from districts as far away as Onchunga and St. Heliers Bay. Other fire stations in the western suburbs were also kept busy answering inquiries. Hundreds of people watched the fire, the side streets in the locality being almost blocked with motor-cars.

OUTBREAKS AT MOUNT EDEN.

NO DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

About two o'clock on Saturday afternoon tho Mount Eden brigade received a call to the borough rubbish tip at the foot of Mount Eden. This was burning strongly and it was necessary to flood the whole tip with water. Even then the firo smouldered for several hours. It was five hours after the brigade received the alarm before it was considered safe to leave the tip.

At the same time a call was received to Wairiki Road, where a grass fire was spreading toward the rear of a house. The flames, which were very close when the firemen arrived, were extinguished without difficulty. There was no damage to property.