ANOTHER FIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26996, 3 February 1949, Page 4

ANOTHER FIRE

LARGE AREA DESTROYED WORST EXPERIENCED NORTH OTAGO DISTRICT Special to the Daily Times ' OAMARU, Feb. 2. What was considered to be one of the worst' fires experienced between Pukeuri Junction and Hilderthorpe started shortly after a goods train from the north passed through Hilderthorpe a little before noon to-day. Approximately 100 farmers from all parts of the district, assisted by Railways Department gangers and post and telegraph employees, were called upon to fight the blaze, but it was not until 1.30 p.m. that it was finally brought under control. Fanned by a strong north-west wind, which later changed to the south-west, the fire spread through the properties of Mr O. Bishop and Mr R. Wilson and was finally halted in the property belonging to Mr Gillett, about a mile and a-half from the railway line. The fire started in a strip approximately 100 yards wide, but spread rapidly and burnt up everything in its path, including pastures, recently-cut oats, about three miles of gorse hedges, and a line of bluegums. , After the fire was brought under control, the wind suddenly, changed to the south-east, and the opinion was expressed by several of the fighters that if this had happened earlier a much larger area would have been devastated, including a house and a large poultry farm. Portions of this area are looking particularly desolate, with acres of brunt and scorched grassland, hedges, and trees. In an endeavour to remove the possibility of further fires, several farmers were busy yesterday back-burning their pastures.