NIGHT OF TERROR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 9

NIGHT OF TERROR

BUSH FIRES IN VICTORIA MANY HOMES DESTROYED WHOLE HILLSIDES ABLAZE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MELBOURNE, Jan. 9. It is now estimated that 112 homes have been destroyed by the fires, which are still raging. A forecast of more hot weather, with north winds, has aroused grave fears that the worst is not yet over. Members of several mill families, whose fate was unknown yesterday, were found sheltering in dugouts amid a blazing country. Two mills are now blackened ruins, and mill settlements have been swept away Towns and villages in the affected areas spent a night of terror. All the available men are battling desperately with the advancing flames. Near Erica a party spent four hours in a creek while the flames roared overhead.

Of the homes burnt, 45 were at Drornana, a seaside resort 40 miles from Melbourne. Many of them were costly residences, including one which belonged to the Rev. T. C. Rentoul, director of the Methodist Inland Mission.. To-night whole hillsides of Victoria’s mountain country were ablaze, the fire being beyond control. Mount Bogang, the highest point in the State, is like a blazing torch. FIRES FANNED BY WIND MILES OF RAGING FLAME MELBOURNE, Jan. 10. (Received Jan. 10, at 11 p.m.) With a strong, hot northerly wind, bush fires raged with renewed vigour in about 20 areas in Victoria to-day. Tens of thousands of acres throughout the countryside are now a blackened ruin. The destruction of houses now amounts to hundreds, but no exact figure is available. Further loss of life is feared, but owing to the destruction of communications news from the affected parts is difficult to obtain. Many settlements in timbered country are surrounded by' a wall of raging flame, and the only hope for the inhabitants is the dugouts which were constructed at all mill settlements after the 1926 fires, when 40 lives were lost. The affected area now extends from Healesville, a popular hill resort, 40 miles from Melbourne, to Kiewa, in the far north-east of the State. Ranges for 300 miles between are all blazing. With the shade temperature 113 degrees in the city, the highest point has been reached since records were kept—77 years. Parts of the country registered 118 degrees. The fire-fighters’ task is almost hopeless, as many fires are burning on 25-mile fronts. When the fire reached Healesville a desperate radio appeal was broadcast for volunteer fire-fighters, and soon truckloads of men set out on the 40-mile dash. The township of Gisborne, on the Bendigo road, is also threatened, and Powelltown, where 29 lives were lost in 1926, is again in the danger zone. To-night a strong wind is still blowing, carrying blazing embers for miles and starting new fires in places distant from the main outbreaks. Desperate efforts are being 'made to reach townships that are cut off in an endeavour to ascertain the fate of the inhabitants, but walls of fire have so far prevented any communication. A dense pall of smoke hung over the city to-day. A Village Destroyed A message from Adelaide stales that terrific heat throughout _ South Australia culminated to-day in the complete destruction of a small village, Mount Torrens, 30 miles from Adelaide. Its 15 houses, shops, and Post Office are all gone. The postmistress heroically remained on duty until the switchboard, with which she summoned help, was destroyed. Hundreds of sheep have perished. Other fires, which are aided by temperatures ranging to 116 degrees, are travelling at high speed, defying the efforts of fire-fighters all over the country. HEAT WAVE CONTINUES SIX DEATHS REPORTED \ SYDNEY, Jan. 10. Heat wave conditions continue over the- eastern half of Australia. The temperature in three-quarters of New South Wales exceeded lOOdeg. The extraordinary level of 122 deg. was reached at Ivanhoe, which reports that the temperature has exceeded 104 deg. for 26 consecutive days. Six deaths in three States are attributed to the heat. Adelaide had its hottest day for seven years, the temperature being 113 deg. , Queensland is in the grip of a severe drought. Heat wave conditions extend over most of the State and the pastures are shrivelled up. The prices of vegetables have risen by over 400 per cent.