FIRES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18583, 2 June 1930, Page 12

FIRES

OUTBREAK NEAR OTIPUA ROAD. On Saturday afternoon there was a serious outbreak of fire on the rear part of the property at present occupied by Mr B. Shaw, situated in Otipua Road. Mr Shaw’s holding runs back to a wide gully, which was badly overgrown with gorse and broom, which was in a highly inflammable state. It is understood that the fire was started by two boys. With the aid of the slight wind which was blowing at the time, the fire spread rapidly through the gully in the direction of Chaucer Street. Despite the efforts of local residents to subdue the flames, they gradually crept nearer to the bottom of Chaucer Street. It was quickly realised that if the fire managed to jump across the gorse-filled road, it would set ablaze the gorse in the paddock opposite, thereby endangering the home of Mr McKenzie. Although this actually did happen, the fire in this section was fortunately beaten out before it could gain a firm hold. An unfortunate part of the occurrence was that, planted in the gully amongst the gorse on Mr Shaw’s property were several hundred young pine trees, and a majority of these suffered severely through the fire. The Timaru Fire Brigade was called out. but as no water supply was available, nothing could be done except to keep the fire confined as much as possible to the gully.

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