WAR ON BUSH FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 50

WAR ON BUSH FIRES.

SYDNEY, January 21. Methods by which it is hoped to safeguard the Victorian forest areas and to prevent a recurrence of the fires which last February devastated laige areas of Victori-au and caused the loss of 33 lives have been announced by the Victorian Forestry Commission. New Zealand should be particularly interested in these proposed measures, for wherever forestry is a live subject, the maintenance pf adequate safeguards against the fire fiend and the methods of different countries should be of great importance. The Victorian Commission has made arrangements for motor patrols to be established to cover all parts of the State. - The patiols will comprise experienced' forest commission officers and police, and will.have full power to piosecute. This week a representative of the sub-committee of various Government departments vitally concerned ill the prevention of bush fires went to Eastern Gippslaud, where the “tai] timber” is, and <>egan establishing bush (ire brigades under proper authority in various centres <>f population. Later the whoio State will be visited and brigades established. -

The motor patrols will cover all roads and public highways, . and go along tracks which are practically inaccessible to the ordinary motorist. ■ The Forest Commission's officers will be fully acquainted with' the fire provisions in the Police Qffences Act, and anyone, either on public or. private property, illegally lighting or starting fires will be prosecuted. All officers have been instructed that the national welfare must be considered first and foremost. Settlers and others will lie met en route and publio meetings will be held where the methods of fighting bush fires will be explained and the policy of the Government on the assistance which will be given to people in the back country will be outlined. As far as possible, the Government will help. in the provision of equipment for the bush fires brigades. "lhe idea.” explained one of the forestry comissioners, “i% to get the people to help themselves, and the Government will help them. The commission is determined to prevent even the smallest fire, and hopes tp have everything ready by February, the most dangerous of all months for bush fires in Victoria.”

<lt is considered that the personal touch of the department’s.representatives with the residents vitally interested in the prevention of- bush fires will be productive of groat results, Strange to. say, some opposition to the formation .of bush fire brigades has been found in tome quarters in Eastern Gippsland, _ but it is believed that this opposition will be overcome by a better idea of national welfare. It is hoped that tho efforts of those people- in the eastern portion of the State who are in sympathy with a great national movement will prevail. The system of patrols, improved' telephonic cmmunication, and look-out towers have recently been responsible for officers of the Forestry Commission checking earlr several bush fires, and as a result has saved considerable loss. Recently an outbreak caused by a motorist, who could not be identified by the forestry officers,, owipgl to distance, was easily extinguished by; , the patrols before it hail spread to any extent. This certainly prevented the destruction by the fire of valuable plantation -of young pines.