THE FIRE DANGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26081, 19 February 1946, Page 4

THE FIRE DANGER

LESSENED BY SHOWERS TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Feb. 18. Rain has lessened the fire danger in some districts, but the fall was not heavy enough to do more than improve the position temporarily, said the Acting Prime Minister, Mr W. Nash, in a statement to-day. Although Wellington had received some steady rain, this was not general, and the districts where the worst fires were burning had had only a few lighl showers, insufficient to lay the dust. The position, Mr Nash said, had improved with light rain in North Canterbury and in the western portion of the North Island as far north as Taumarunui. Unfortunately, there. had been no rain in the Wairarapa, where fires were burning, nor at Puketitiri, although this burn was smouldering only, and was considered reasonably safe. The • fires behind Ashley and Clinton broke out again yesterday morning, but heavy showers in that locality had dampened them almost immediately. In the Taupo district the fires at Oruanui were quietened by two hours’ heavy rain, but round Taupo only two very light showers had occurred, and the fire hazard was still high. A scrub fire yesterday afternoon on the south-western side of Tauhara Mountain, four or five miles from Taupo on the Napier road, was reported by plane patrol by radio, and at 7 p.m. was reported to be quite safe. Mr Nash said that in North Auckland there were a few scattered showers, but they were not sufficient to make much difference to the fire hazard, and there was still a grave danger in that district if a fire should occur. For that reason extra patrols had been instituted for the protection of the kauri forests. Although the rain had given some temporary relief, concluded Mr Nash, the forecast indicated a continued spell of fine weather, so that there could be no decrease in the precautions against fire, and the patrols would have to be maintained.