SPECTACULAR FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21494, 18 May 1933, Page 10

SPECTACULAR FIRE

PLANTATIONS DESTROYED HIGH TREES IN FLAMES SMOKE SPREADS FOR MILES AREA OF 90 ACRES SWEPT [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday One of the most spectacular fires ever seen in the Ashburton County today swept through pinus and gum plantations of a total area of 90 acres, owned by the Ashburton County Council and situated on the west side of the railway between Windcrmero and Winslow, damaging thousands of trees and more than 30 cords of firewood stacked in heaps. Windermere is eight miles from Ashburton and Winslow is two miles nearer. \ Throughout the day the fire raged. Great masses of flame ran up some of the high trees and leaped almost 100 feet into the air, sending off showers of sparks, which travelled as far as 20 chains to adjoining pasture. Great volumes of smoke enveloped the countryside for miles toward the coast and could be seen about 40 miles away. At one stage the whole countryside to the coast and to Winslow was threatened, when sparks started fiesli fires in dry pasture. These fires were arrested by a large party of beaters and by the ploughing of fire breaks with o tractor.

The firo in the plantation was almost under control at one period, but the strong wind, which reached gale force ht times, carried sparks across the breaks which bad been cut, and also across the road into another plantation of 10 acres. Further attempts were made to confine the fire, which rageu through tho trees and heavy undergrowth, but all were unsuccessful, as sparks were carried 20 chains, setting light to an-adjoining GO-acro block ot trees. The fire-fighters were powerless to combat the flames, which were fanned in all directions by the changeable wind. 4 . Late in the afternoon all hopes ot saving any portion of tho plantations had to be abandoned and efforts were concentrated on preventing the spread of the fire to about 700 cords of cut timber stacked on the eastern boundary of ojie of the plantations. FIGHTING GRASS FIRE REST HOUSE THREATENED FLAMES EVENTUALLY CHECKED A grass fire which covered more than 200 acres on the Cashmere Hills, near -Christchurch, on Sunday afternoon iand evening, swept within 50yds. of the Lewisham Sisters' Rest House and only by the feverish efforts of 40 fire-fighters was it prevented from reaching the building and destroying it. For half an hour the flames were burning fiercely almost within the small plantation about the house. The outbreak was noticed first early in the-afternoon about two slightly to tho north-east of the house, but a long way below it. The flames travelled against the north-wester and for two hours appeared unlikely to do any damage or spread very far. But by 4.30 o'clock the fire had reached gorse and bracken near Marley's Track. Here it turned back and climbed up the hill at a furious pace. _ > There was a burning front or two miles now and from below the flames appearod to form a triangle from the point at which the outbreak had begun, across the valley to Marley's Hill, then up to the rest house, the house forming the apex of the triangle. Those at the rest house began to have fears for the safety of the building about 6.45 o'clock, for the fire was gathering speed as it met with the more inflammable gorse. A party of 40 .men was soon gathered. They saw that,it would be useless to go down immediately and attack the wide front of, the fire, so they waited on the crest of the hill on which tho house stands and prepared to attack the flames as they came up, over what would necessarily be a smaller front. They did not have to wait long, for tho flames, fast-moving as they had been, were approaching even as-fast as a man could run. The fire-fighters went into action and it was .a short fight, but a feverish one while it lasted. The fire canie up over the crest of the hill just after seven o'clock. It was eight o'clock before the house Was out of danger. During the period of anxiety at the house the sisters were prepared to leave, but this was not necessary.