THREE FIRE ALMS

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1363, 26 January 1950, Page 1

THREE FIRE ALMS

BRIGADE’S PROMPT ACTION Nurseries Damaged ;>i Three fire alarms sounded in Putaruru on Wednesday but there war. cnly one fire. While burning off a portion of his property, Mr XL R. Marriott, of Marriott Nurseries, said the wind changed round to the west at about 11 a.m. with the result that the -fire got out of control, leaping two previously burnt firebreaks 15 feet wide, necessitating the calling of the Putaruru Volunteer Fire Brigade. Prompt action by the brigade resulted in the elimination of the danger, after a second alarm was sounded for more men. Later in the afternoon a strong wind carrying embers re-started the fire and the afternoon alarm was answered by the brigade and about 50 volunteers. No water was available, the fire-fighters having to beat out the flames with damp sacks or green brush. Mr Marriott estimated an area of approximately six to eight acres, including gooseberry and raspberry gardens and a portion of swamp were affected by the fire. The nurseries are situated on the Waotu turn-off, two miles down the Arapuni Road. Two More Alarms Two further fires were.extinguished by the prompt action of the Putaruru Volunteer Fire Brigade on Thursday. Sparks from a passing train ignited the grass and brush at the side of the railway line near the borough boundary, the fire spreading to Overdale Road. More serious was the outbreak in a vacant section in Glenshea Road, where a fire was reported to have been started by children playing with matches.