RECORD HEAT IN SYDNEY

Southland Times, Issue 23717, 16 January 1939, Page 7

RECORD HEAT IN SYDNEY

13 Deaths Reported

In State

BUSH-FIRES BREAK OUT IN SUBURBS

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received January 15, 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 15.

Following a nine o’clock high record reading of 104.4 degrees, the thermometer in Sydney rose relentlessly till it reached 113.6 degrees during the afternoon, the highest ever recorded. Then it gradually receded, but it remained over the century mark for several hours. In the suburbs away from the sea even higher temperatures were recorded. The beaches were not as crowded as might have been expected. The sand was too hot to sit upon. Most persons waited indoors till late in the afternoon and evening, when the beaches were crowded. Bathers remained in the water till a late hour.

The atmosphere in the open was like a furnace blast. More than 100 cases of collapse were reported by ambulance officers.

Bush fires were reported in many suburbs and every available fireman and hundreds of volunteers \vere called into service to check them.

A southerly which began to blow shortly after six o’clock brought some relief.

Saturday’s record hot day caused 13 persons to lose their lives. One was killed in a bush-fire at Nowra, two were burned to death near Liverpool, five died from heat-stroke in country districts and five from the same cause in the city. In a week heat and fire have killed more than 170 persons in Australia.

Bush-fires around Sydney have caused considerable damage. More than 100 houses have been destroyed or badly damaged. The fires were practically subdued this evening, when the wind suddenly changed to the south and caused them to break out again with renewed fury, endangering hundreds of fire-fighters. All police leave has been cancelled and those on leave have been ordered to return to duty immediately. Fires have isolated many districts and desperate calls for help could not be sent through. The city is still enveloped in a pall of smoke. Members of the Science Congress at Canberra were forced to abandon their excursions. Major bush fires are raging in the Federal Capital Territory. It is estimated the damage from bushfires in Australia will be approximately £2,000,000. DAMAGE AT PORT HACKING Fifty suburban homes and week-end houses were destroyed around Sydney, the most extensive damage being done in the Port Hacking district, where 45 buildings either were gutted or halfdestroyed. Thirty-five homes and a church were damaged at Mossvale and 35 at Castlehill. At Thirlmere 50 inmates of the sanatorium fled for their lives, but the building was saved. Mittagong was saved only by the sterling efforts of volunteers. Spreading a trail of devastation over a scattered front from Glenbrook to Blackheath, the bush fires raged fiercely in the Blue Mountains area. A serious fire swept the valley/ heights on the main western road /and for several hours the little township faced the grim prospect of complete annihilation. However, a change of wind saved it. The fire burned on a half-mile front at Glenbrook, but last night the town was reported to be out of danger. Despite the industrial trouble on the south coast police and more than 300 industrialists worked side by side to quell bush-fires that raged from Nowra to Dapto. Seven houses were burned at Yalwal, the damage being estimated at £6OOO.

Three hundred sheep were burned to death at Heriot Hill, west of Dapto. Four persons were trapped on the Mossvale railway line, but sought refugee in a tunnel till they were rescued.

Three houses were burned down at Parma, a house and a church at Beaumont, three houses at Kangaroo Valley and two houses near Unanderra.

Bishop Moyes, of Armidale, and the Minister of Education (Mr D. H. Drummond) headed a body of volunteers assisting the firemen to deal with fires from Harbord to Narrabeen. A message from Adelaide says that two lives were lost in South Australian

bush-fires which caused damage amounting to nearly £750,000. CYCLONE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA HOUSES BLOWN OUT TO SEA AT PORT HEADLAND (Received January 14, 5.5 p.m.) PERTH, January 14. Telephone news from Port Hedland st..tes that no lives were lost in the cyclone, but the damage to property was extensive. Three houses were blown out to sea and many others were demolished when the cyclone struck the town on Wednesday. Cyclonic storms sweeping the northeast and heavy monsoonal rains in thi Dutch East Indies have disorganized air mail services. It is expected to take at least a week to recover from the setback.