SERIOUS BUSH FIRES.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16736, 12 March 1926, Page 5

SERIOUS BUSH FIRES.

IN MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.j BLENHEIM, March 12. A serious bush fire on Tuesday night threaten fed to make a clean sweep of two ssiwmills and their huge stacks of saw;i timber, as well as the cottages of their workers. As it was, the residence of one of the mill workers was totally destroyed. 1 Tlies.e mills are situated in Tinline Valley, off Pelorous Sound, and are owned by Mr. W.- Carr and Messrs. Bryant Bros. Details gathered from a Havelock source state that the fire started in the afternoon, at about three o’clock, on the property upon which the mills stand, and a change in the wind to nor’-west led to the fire getting out of control. Fanned by this heavy wind, the flames bore down on the timber mills at the roadside, the bush burning fiercely and sending up great billowing volumes of smoke.

The entire staffs of the two mills were turned'out as a fire-fighting force to do battle with the flames and to protect buildings. A whare belonging to Mr. Gardiner fell a victim to the fire. As darkness fell, the battle was still in full swing. The fire then appeared to have, a stronger hold than ever, and the gallant fighters were well-nigh dropping with exhaustion, whilst many were overcome with smoke.

Fearing that the mills would be< destroyed, as well as the dwellings of the 100 souls comprising the settlement, an urgent S.O.S. call for reinforcements was then sent out to the surrounding districts. "With the burning of Mr. Coleman’s house, hope of saving the mill itself was practically abandoned, but the now lulling wind inspired the weary men to renewed effort, and the progress of the flames was at last stayed at seven o’clock next morning.

It was fortunate that Dr. Clvmont accompanied the Havelock contingent to th.e scene, for he was called upon to treat many cases of burns and collapse.

WHOLE VALLEY AFIRE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

BLENHEIM, March 12

Further destructive bush , fires are reported from Tunakino Valley, which is stated to be ablaze from end to

end. On Wednesday afternoon a call came to Canvastown for men to go to Mr. C. Bryant’s sawmill at Pelorus Bridge, which was in imminent danger, as it was in -the path of the fire, but when the party reached the scene they found that things were not so bail as they had feared, and they were not Jong in saving the situation. While engaged in the work, they received a call from Tunakino-Opouri Valley, where a fire had broken out and was spreading rapidly on' a wide front. Settlers for miles around were beating the flames, but help was urgently needed. The fire was found to be threatening Mr. ArthurvHebbard’s house, and a great effort was made to protect it. The fire, however, won, and the hofise was destroyed. Mr. P. Neal’s house was also threatened, but was saved after a strenuous fight. Th.e women and children of the settlement were sheltered in the Public Hall. ' . The fire-fighters worked on till the early hours of yesterday morning, and the latest news is that the danger is %now . definitely suppressed.