BUSH FIRES OUT OF CONTROL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21244, 14 January 1939, Page 15

BUSH FIRES OUT OF CONTROL

WORST IN VICTORIA’S HISTORY Thousands Fleeing for Their Lives Wide Area Swept By Flames New Record Heat Waves United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 13, 11.25 p.m.) MELBOURNE. January 13. Fanned by a fierce north wind, which prang up to-day, fires are now raging reyond control throughout the forest areas of Victoria. An area of 300 square miles is ablaze and many large townships have been evacuated. Hundreds of people arc seeking refuge in rivers and creeks. Melbourne's Record Heat The city temperature reached an all time record of 114 with up to 120 in country districts. Fires Nearing City Fires are now within 15 miles of Melbourne where the town of Warrandyte, comprising 150 buildings, was completely wiped out. The whole population are sheltering in the River Yarra. All the hill resorts, at Warburton, Healesville. Ferntree gully, Sassafras and Belgrave are blazing, and may suffer the same fate as Warrandyte. Lome, a favourite seaside resort, 80 miles east of Melbourne is also in danger. Little news is available from mill towns in the centre of the burning area, but it is feared that Noojee, Powelltown, Walhalla and Erica are doomed. Evacuation of Population When the wind rose early this morning, it was realised that nothing could be done to resist the advance of the flames and preparations were immediately made to evacuate the threatened settlers. Cars and truckloads of refugees were brought with all speed to safety points. A goods train from Noojee was requisitioned to remove an entire population. Some 250 families were removed from Warburton, one of Melbourne's most popular hill resorts, 48 miles from the city. All roads to the hills are now blocked by fires and communications are down. There is little knowledge of what happened there, but owing to early plans for the evacuation of the population, it is believed that no lives are in danger. Only one man is known to be dead, although several parties are not accounted for. Wid:spread Devastation Shocking devastation was wrought over a vast area, thousands of square mile of forest being utterly destroyed. The damage to property cannot yet be estimated. The disaster is the greatest in Victoria's long history of bushfire tragedies but it is impassible yet to gain an idea of the full extent of the loss. Panicstriken refugees are swarming to the city, where residents are accepting them in their homes. Money is still pouring in for a relief fund. “The Argus” list is now £lB,OOO. DE.THS FROM HEAT WAVE SYDNEY SWELTERS IN HIGH TEMPERATURES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 13, 11.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 13. Ten more deaths, attributed to the heat wave, were reported from New South Wales country towns to-day. Fierce heat is reported from Wilcannia, where five deaths have occurred since Monday, the thermometer averaging 114 for ten consecutive days. Hospital staffs in western towns are working overtime. The majority of country hospitals arc unable to take more patients. "We have never known anything like it," declared a hospital doctor in the western centre, referring to the prolonged and intense heat. An Adelaide message says that the intense heat continues, A.delalde’s temperature being 117.7 degrees, a new high record.