BUSH FIRES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19971, 13 December 1926, Page 9

BUSH FIRES

MANY NARROW ESCAPES. SEVERAL HOUSES DESTROYED. GALLANT FIGHT BY SETTLERS. (Presf Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, December 10. The bush fires in the west and southern districts continue to rage fiercely, and in many cases they ; re out of control, but men and women are fighting valiantly under extremely trying conditions. Many narrow escapes from loss of life are reported. One man was trapped and his clothes burnt off him. He is in a critical condition. The children attending the Daroobalgie School were endangered, but the womanfolk held the flames in check until assistance arrived from Forbes. Fires raging around Alectown threaten to destroy the town. The fires in the southern districts covered extensive areas, but owing to the dislocation of communications their full extent is not known. The settlers’ wives in the vicinity of Gundagai left their ■ homes with their children and a few valuables. Several dwellings were burnt. The tires round rioulburn are described as the worst in the history of the district. Many homesteads were burnt and much stock destroyed. The township of Marutan is surrounded by flames, whose heat is so great that the fighters are unable to approach within 100 yards. Food supplies and fire-fighters are being rushed from Goulburn. At Tarlo and Roslyn the position is also serious. As much as 10s an hour is being offered in some parts for firefighters. The town of Coolamo was saved after a desperate struggle. FIRES STILL RAGING. DISASTROUS LOSSES. HEROIC FIGHTS AGAINST FLAMES. SYDNEY, December 12. (Received Dec. 12, at 5.5 p.m.) Disastrous bush fires are raging in all parts of the State. Many settlers have been burned out, and vast areas of grass, standing crops, bagged wheat, machinery, and fencing have been destroyed. Some districts report severe losses of stock. Glowing stories are told of firefighters, including women, and their endurance and heroism in their attempts to stay the spread of the flames and the rescue -of threatened families. Numerous sensational narrow escapes are reported. Owing to the protracted spell of hot and dry weather the fires are the worst experienced for years. LOSS OF LIFE FEARED. FIRE-FIGHTERS MISSING. SERIOUS STOCK MORTALITY. SYDNEY, December 12. (Received Dec. 13, at 1 a.m.) News from the districts in the grip ol the bush fires is much delayed owing to the damage and destruction of telegraph lines. The latest reports show that the fires are raging and spreading with unabated fury. They are sweeping across wide areas, particularly in the west and south, causing immense damage and suffering. One hundred families have been burned out. A number of fire-fighters in various centres are reported to be missing, and it is feared that they have perished. Woman and children are being hurried into the townships for safetv. The hospitals are kept busv treating scorched fire-fighters and others who ran the gauntlet when trapped by the flames. Among the disastrous stock lossees reported, are a number of valuable stud cattle. Thirty horses on one station were so badly burned that they had to be shot. In the dairying districts many cows are so badly scorched that they cannot be milked.