BUSH ABLAZE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 12

BUSH ABLAZE

BLOCK LARGE AREA SWEPT TEEES BUM FIERCELY EIRE-FIGHTERS' ORDEAL [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] KOTOHUA, Wednesday Fanned by a strong south-easterly breeze, a bush fire of unprecedented proportions destroyed a large belt of timber owned by New Zealand Perpetual Forests, Limited, at Atiamuri, to-night. Up to a late hour hurriedly mobilised gangs of fire-fighters had been unable to cope with the rapid adVance of the flames and, while it is impossible to estimate the damage that has been already caused, the loss will be very considerable.

The plantation affected by the fire is about 640 acres in extent, approxirnately between the 17 and 20-mile pegs on the Atiamuri lload. It is heavily planted with pinus insignis trees, which have reached an average height of about 50ft. The flames were spreading to-night with such rapidity that tho workers appeared to be facing a hopeless task, and a change of wind seemed the only factor that would ease the position. Roar of Flames Strenuous efforts were made to check the advance of the flames by burning back the bush from the load and by establishing patrols along tho highway for aboi.it two miles. These efforts were rewarded with little success. Sparks were carried across the road and, before men could be mobilised to cope with the position, the dry undergrowth was ablaze. Within a few minutes the timber was burning fiercely, until the roar of the flames could be heard over two miles away. Extension Feared A call for assistance to check the spread of the 'fire was speedily met and, within, an incredibly short space of time, more than 150 men, many sent from Rotorua by the State Forestry Department had arrived on the scene. However, the.gusty conditions that prevailed made their task almost impossible, and it appeared that almost the whole block was wreathed in flames. ' . . The gangs were constantly being reinforced up to a late hour to-night, but it was considered that only a change of wind could prevent, the fire from"extending into adjoining sections of forest. , ■

TOKAANU ROAD AREA ANXIETY ALLAYED SMOKE OVER TAUMARUNUI [BY TKLKGI'AI'H —OWN CORRESPONDENT] TAUMARUNUI, Wednesday The fire in the bush between National Park and Tokaanu, which was raging yesterday about seven miles past the turn-off "to tho Chateau Tongariro, on the National Park-Tokaanu road, continued to burn to-day, the flames flicking the tree-tops in the green bush. However, anxiety was allayed when the wind dropped to-night. Although the fire this afternoon had reached bush milled by Mr. Hopkins, it was not considered that any of the mill premises or houses were likely to be in danger unless a heavy wind sprang up. Taumarunui this afternoon was covered by a heavy pall of smoke.

WHAKATANE DANGER PASSES

EARLY ALARM RELIEVED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WHAKATANE, Wednesday All danger from the outbreak whieli menaced a new plantation near Whakatane yesterday is now over. Some alarm was caused this morning when felled dead trees on the outskirts of a patch of native bush being worked by Messrs. G. Symes and Company, sawmillers, of Te Teko, was seen to be on fire. The trees were dragged clear and the fire was extinguished. The weather to-day continued very hot and there was a strong wind, which dropped late in the afternoon.