BLAZE AT EALING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19093, 27 January 1932, Page 6

BLAZE AT EALING.

FIRE COVERS WIDE AREA. A NARROW ESCAPE. A serious outbreak of fire broke out 1 about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon in a plantation near the boundary of Messrs Reith Bros, and Mr W. R. Pilson’s properties at Ealing, at a point about half a mile from the railway line. Five men attempted to cope with the outbreak, but the fire got away and spread right through a paddock of oats up to Mr C. Cairns’s residence, which was saved by a grim struggle in which about 100 men took part. Shortly after the outbreak the wind veered to the nor’west, but it chopped about, and made fire-fighting a difficult task. Miniature whirlwinds of flame swept through the dry grass, and the blaze spread in all directions. A plantation of trees surrounding Mr Cairns’s property was destroyed, and the flames encircled the house and swept across the lawn to the front door. By this time the number of firelighters was greatly augmented, and the strenuous efforts of a bucket brigade were responsible for the house being saved from destruction. From Mr Cairns's property the blaze continued its fiery coarse into Mr J. Galbie’s, and thence to Mr G. Berry’s where an old shed was destroyed. No damage was done to either Mr Galbie’s or Mr Berry’s residences. but fencing was destroyed.. When the fire was at its height it was estimated that its frontage extended over 1£ miles. The fire traversed about eight miles in a northerly direction, but in the later stages it did not cover such a wide frontage. When the outbreak was finally checked about 300 men, including employees of the Ashburton County Council, were engaged in fighting the flames. If it had not been for the strenuous efforts of the men the consequences would have been much more serious. The blaze was in check by the evening, but in- the event of the wind rising again it was doubtful if it could be kept in control.