MILES OF FLAMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23707, 14 January 1939, Page 13

MILES OF FLAMES

FOREST FIRES IN VICTORIA

RAGING BEYOND CONTROL TOWNSHIPS EVACUATED PEOPLE SHELTERING IN RIVERS

ALL HILL RQADS BLOCKED

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

MELBOURNE. Jan. 13.

(Received Jan. 14, at 0.30 a.m.)

Fanned by a fierce north wind which sprang up to-day, fires are now raging beyond control throughout the forest areas in Victoria. An area of 300 miles square is ablaze, and many large townships have been evacuated, hundreds of people seeking refuge in rivers and creeks. The city temperature reached an all-time record of 114, with up to 120 in country districts. The fires are now within 15 miles of Melbourne, where the town of Warrandyte, comprising 150 buildings, was completely wiped out. The whole population is sheltering in the River Yarra. All hill resorts at Warburton. Healesville, Ferntree Gully and Sassafras and Belgrave are blazing and may suffer the same fate as Warrandyte. Lome, a favourite seaside resort 80 miles east of Melbourne, is also in danger. Little news is available from mill towns in the centre of the burning area, but it is feared that Noojee, Powelltown, Walhalla and Erica are doomed.

When the wind rose early this morning it was realised that nothing could be done to resist the advance of the flames, and preparations were immediately made to evacuate the threatened settlements. Car and truck loads of refugees were brought with all speed to points of safety. A goods train from Noojee was requisitioned to remove the entire population. Some 250 families were removed from Warburton, one of Melbourne’s most popular hill resorts, 48 miles from the city. All roads to the hills are now blocked by fires, and communications .are down. There is little knowledge of what has happened there, but owing to early plans for evacuation it is believed that no lives are in danger. Only one man is known to be dead, although several parties have not been accounted for.

Shocking devastation has been wrought over a vast area, thousands of square miles of forest being utterly destroyed. The damage to property cannot yet be estimated.

The disaster is the greatest in Victoria’s long history of bush-fire tragedies, but it is impossible yet to gain any idea of the full extent of the loss. Panic-stricken refugees are swarming to the city, where residents are taking them into their homes.

Money is still pouring in for the relief fund, and the Argus list is how £ 18,000.

DEATHS FROM HEAT TOTAL NOW FORTY-ONE BABIES AMONG VICTIMS SYDNEY, Jan. 12. Yesterday’s deaths in the country as the result of the heat totalled 34, making 41 for the two days. The victims included seven babies. A 12-months-old baby who was suffering from the effects of the heat was flown from Leeton, where the temperature was 117 degrees, to Sydney, at an altitude of 11,000 feet in an effort to save its life. The baby’s condition improved in the cooler atmosphere of the upper air. At Adelaide the intense heat continues, the temperature being 117.7 degrees, a new high record. Perth fears that a major calamity has occurred as a result of the cyclone in the north-western part of Western. Australia. Port Hedland is entirely cut off from every form of communication. Torrential rains have fallen in this area, and also in southern parts of the State.

The violent storm was followed by destructive floods, which caused damage estimated at £50,000. ■ At Kalgoorlie and Boulder two persons are missing. At Boulder 2000 miners have been rendered temporarily unemployed. At Kalgoorlie, where the streets are awash, the express was held up by landslides and washaways. At Marble Bar a madly-rushing creek has cut the town in halves. FURTHER DEATHS REPORTED THERMOMETER SOARING SYDNEY, Jan. 13. (Received Jan. 14, at 0.30 a.m.) Ten more deaths attributed to the heat wave were reported from New South Wales country towns to-day. Fierce heat is reported from Wilcanuia, where five deaths have occurred since Monday, the thermometer averaging 114 degrees for 10 days.

Hospita staffs in western towns are working overtime, while the majority of the country hospitals are unable to take more patients. “We I ave never known anything like it,” declared a hospital doctor from the western centre, when referring to the prolonged and intense heat.