FIRE MENACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27523, 18 October 1950, Page 6

FIRE MENACE

Gorse-covered Areas In Dunedin HOMES ENDANGERED Some people in the North-East Valley district lived in constant fear of fire breaking out in the gorse-covered areas near their homes, and had many of their valuable possessions ready packed in case of emergency, stated the chairman, Mr E. H. Ferguson, at a meeting of the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board last night. The board decided to write to the City Council asking it to see that the Noxious Weeds Act be enfqrced and that a deputation be received to discuss the matter of fire danger from gorse. 'A further letter is to be written to the Fire Boards’ Association suggesting amendments to the Fire Services Act so that power to prosecute offenders would be vested in fire boards. “ The City Council does not carry out its by-law because it is the biggest sinner in this respect itself,” Mr Ferguson said. Mr C. J. Hayward, who is also a member of the City Council, said that every time the brigade attended a gorse fire a hose was either burnt or torn. The City Council realised that the job had to be done, he said, but it had insufficient labour to clear the gorse away. “ I am principally concerned about the houses adjacent to these gorse-covered areas,” he said. It was essential that they should be given some protection, and he advocated that fire breaks should be made to stop a fire in case it broke out. The secretary reported that the board had approached the City Council about gorse clearance in November, 1946, and a promise had been made that people would be forced to clean up gorse areas. “ The Reserves Department would be doing a greater service to the city bv cleaning up the gorse menace than planting flowers.” Mr D. J. Simpson said. “I know that flowers look very pretty, but this is a priority business.” Mr M. Connelly said he would be reluctant to ask the council to make the Reserves Department do such work. It was not the department’s job, but one for the Works Department or the sanitary inspector. The chairman said he thought it would be interesting to find out how many prosecutions had been made under the Act since the board had last taken up the matter with the council in 1946. Several members were quick in their reply: “ None.” The superintendent, Mr F. C. Laidlaw. reported that the brigade had experienced some difficulty in controlling a gorse fire burning over a large area in Montague street on September 30. Several residences had been threatened, he said, and he had subsequently visited the area with the chief sanitary inspector, who fully appreciated the danger from gorse and dry grass on the plantation’s fire break. Messrs Ferguson, Connelly and Simpson were appointed to the deputation to wait on the City Council.