FIRE ON MOUNTAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 10

FIRE ON MOUNTAIN

FORESTS THREATENED WEIRD SIGHT AT TAUPO GANGS WORK ON FIREBREAKS iBT TELEGRAPH-OWN CORRESPONDENT] TAUPO, Thursday The scrub fire which has been raging between Taupo and the near by forestry plantations on the Napier road for , e past four days is now climbing e Tauhara Mountain, about five miles from Taupo, on a front at least a mile W At present the fiire is in particularly heavy scrub and a strong westerly wind is driving the flames at a great pace. The fire climbing the mountain creates a weird isigbt, and can be plainly seen from Taupo. The outbreak on the lower slopes of the mountain blazed up about 11 o'clock this morning, while the fire on the other side of the Napier road also continued during the day, and about 4 p.m jumped the road. At one place the five is only about four miles from a forestry plantation, but it is hoped that the fire, as it climbs the mountain, will lose itself in the open and stunted scrub on the upper slopes of the 3600 ft. peak and that the danger which at present threatens the plantation will be averted.

The country round Taupo is particularly dry at present and the strong wind and sunshine to-day counteracted anv effects of the light drizzle which fell yesterday. Large gangs are at present employed on the firebreaks of the forestry plantations, which are from two to three chains wide. With a strong following wind sparks could easily be carried across the firebreaks, and as the outbreak works nearer to the plantations each day the« position is still quite serious. It is considered that a substantial fall of rain is the only thing which will stop the scrub fire now.