RINGED BY FIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26530, 4 August 1947, Page 4

RINGED BY FIRE

Outbreaks in Scrub Around Dunedin DAMAGE IN PLANTATION Fires of varying dimensions were burning on the hills and plains in every direction around the city last night. From small conflagrations in patches of scrub to blazing infernos with flames leaping 50 and 60 feet into the air, the outbreaks were apparent from vantage points on the hills no matter which way the eye was turned. Fanned by a strong northerly breeze, the flames of the smallest outbreak were an incipient menace to anything in their path. The orange glow in the sky was an eerie sight seen through the haze of smoke over the hills. Seen from Fairfield one of the more spectacular outbreaks on the hills near Abbotsford was reminiscent of a town in war-time after the passage of a fleet of incendiary-laden bombers. So far as is known there was little threat to private property, but the acres of flames leaping high into the air were at once a spectacular and terrifying sight.

Motorists travelling from Invercar--gill last night reported that fires were to be seen along almost the whole of the distance. The majority of these were in the hills, but there were also outbreaks perilously close to towns. Fires were burning on both sides of the overhead bridge near Milton at about 11 p.m. and, although there was no immediate danger, a careful watch was being kept on the situation. The most spectacular scenes were reported from the Taieri plains. In every direction there was a fire to catch the eye. Several acres of scrub were blazing on the Chain Hills, flames could be seen near the summit of Swampy, the area around Abbotsford appeared to be a seething mass of flames, and minor fires dotted the plains. No explanation as to the cause of the outbreaks, which were almost unprecedented in their numbers, was available, but the steady wind was a contributing factor to the severity and continuance of the flames. Those fires near the railway lines were probably caused by hot ash and cinders, and the strong wind again entered the picture as a carrier and spreader of destruction. Firemen were on their mettle, and a Daily Times reporter witnessed a commendable display of speed and zeal when the fire alarm sounded at Green Island shortly after 11 o’clock last night. The last strains had barely died away before a taxi flashed past carrying one of the brigade members to the outbreak, which was in a patch of gorse behind Reid and Gray’s factory at Burnside. Firemen rapidly appeared from side streets struggling into their uniforms, and within a few moments were attacking the flames. A defect in the fire plug at the Burnside road junction caused a delay of some 15 to 20 minutes before water could be brought to bear on the outbreak. and in the meantime the brigadesmen used sacks to beat the flames, meeting with some measure of success. When leads were attached to a plug some distance along the Lookout Point short-cut, the fire was quickly extinguished. Fire swept through part of the City Corporation’s plantation at Bethune’s Gully, North-East Valley, late yesterday afternoon and between two and live acres of 10-year-old pinus insignis trees were almost completely destroyed. The alarm was given at 4.20 p.m., and the fire brigade was promptly on the scene, but the fire already had a good hold on part of the plantation. The brigade concentrated on preventing the blaze from spreading through the remainder of the 45 acres of bush. On Saturday the brigade was called out to a gorse fire in the Leith Valley at 3.28 p.m. Little difficulty was experienced in dealing with the blaze. Slight damage was caused when a fire broke out at McLeod Bros.’ works at Burnside yesterday afternoon. The brigade was summoned at 2.46 p.m. Later in the afternoon the brigade was called to a fire at Bethune’s Gully where several acres of trees were destroyed. The brigade was called to suppress a gorse fire in the Leith Valley at 3.28 p.m. on Saturday, and at 4.28 p.m. a false alarm was received from the Leith bridge. A chimney fire in Carr street, North-East Valley was extinguished at 4.40 p.m.