DRAMATIC SAVES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16874, 11 February 1929, Page 12

DRAMATIC SAVES

FAMILY FIGHT FOR HOMES MINE BECOMES BLAZING CRATER YALLOURN (Vic), Jan. 18. Yallourn has been in the grip of a disastrous bush fire since midday. The township of Yallourn and the mam workings have fortunately, been cut off from the fire area by the Latrobe River. The area along the Latrobe Valley, north-east of the power station on the opposite bank of the river, has been menaced by a solid front of flame sweeping along the valley. The lire threatened the old brown coal settlement up of early settlers. One home was destroyed, 'and in a 40-mile per hour gale many more in the settlement have been threatened. The whole of the old open-cut mine is ablaze, and the bridge, the solo communication between* tne the settlement have guarded their homes is ibeing guarded. Many good saves were made at South Camp, whore two houses were destroyed. Inhabitants of the settlement habe guarded their homes for hours, and fearing lest the wind may spring up they may be fighting all night. The disaster in the old mine will not interfere with the power supply. All coal is won from the new open cut, which is safe from outbreaks. WIND FANS FLAMES. Fanned by a strong wind to-day, small galleries* of fires which festooned the valley of the Latrobe River at Yallourn spread rapidly until the area north oi the main transmission line was a blazing front of flame. At 1 p.m. the big power station whistle blew the alarm. The local firemen iett their jobs and hurried to the fire. Sparks set alight scattered fires, and the flames travelled some miles round the bouth Camp, where many men are camping. The camp was just saved. The fire then travelled to the abattoirs. A good save was made there. G. Baker's home and Tom Hurley's home were destroyed. After desperate fighting the brigade justsaved the homes of Messrs. W. Moffit and R. Wilson. While concentrating on the southern area of the Latrobe Valley, the fire, which was cut off from the power station and the township of Yallourn proper by the river, was driven by the fierce wind right on to the borders of the brown coal settlement, which is about three miles from the Yallourn township. At the settlement about 1000 people live in houses fashioned by themselves. These are mainly bush humpies and cement bag bungalows. As soon as the fires reached the settlement the population set up a human barrier. Men and women and their families fought the lire side by side in the terrific heat. In a few seconds the whole settlement was enveloped in a twilight of smoke. The very young children were tended at Hutchinson's stores, which was the headquarters of the firefighters A BLAZING CRATER. Then the climax came with dramatic suddenness, when the whole ibottom and sheer 150 feet face of the old open-cut burst into flames. The little settlement rests just on top of this old cut. John Stirling, a married man, newly established at the settlement, was the first victim of the mine fire. He lost his homo and its contents. The mine is a blazing crater, belching dense volumes of heavy smoke in the dqrkncss. A great crowd of spectators have gathered to watch what represents a rural Luna Park. Very little can be done other than prevent the sparks from blowing over the settlement, which is being well patrolled. Firemen are working desperately in the terrible heat, from the

coal. At 5 o'clock a powder magazine blew up. All night trucks, winches, electrical equipment and coal-winning gear have been crashing in the cauldron of flame. Many families have taken the contents of their homes into the open. A feature of the fire is the courage of tho women. Blackened, and with smoke-reddened eves, they have fought gallantly beside the men.