FIERCE FIRES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 October 1938, Page 7

FIERCE FIRES

FORESTRY PLANTATIONS THREATENED OUTBREAKS IN - ROTORUA REGION. STRENUOUS WORK BY FIGHTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ROTORUA, This Day. Only prompt measures by gangs totalling approximately 150 employees assisted by a fortunate change of wind at the critical moment averted a disaster of major proportions when State Forestry plantations covering over four hundred thousand acres were threatened with destruction by fires which broke out at three different points between Rotorua and Waiotapu yesterday. At about midday the first outbreak was observed sweeping across scrub covered country towards the Taupo highway, five miles from Rotorua. For several hours gangs hurriedly sent to the scene toiled to keep the flames from jumping the road into the forestry. Shortly before nightfall the danger in this area had passed but not before three miles of hillside opposite to the plantations had been left blackened. While the men were fighting this outbreak emergency calls were sent out by lookouts reporting another fire south of the Waiotapu Hotel, about one mile from the nearest forestry plantation. Fire fighters rushed to the scene but before the spread of the fire through the dry manuka scrub was arrested strenuous efforts were necessary to save the Waiotapu Hotel from destruction. Danger had barely been averted when another outbreak of more serious proportions was discovered further south. In a matter of a few minutes scrub covered country over a wide area was a roaring inferno with a wall of flame sweeping rapidly toward the forestry plantation. Every available man was now concentrated upon stopping the spread of the fire to the plantations by burning back from a firebreak. With the flames advancing with remarkable rapidity the chances of success seemed almost impossible. Sweeping across country, the fire destroyed the post office and tearoom at the Waiotapu reserve. Captain W. H. Walker, lessee of the reserve, barely had time to recover the money from the post office before it was left a charred mass. Considerable department records were destroyed. When it appeared that nothing could save the forestry plantations with the wall of flam? only a few yards away an unexpected change of wind, which also considerably lessened in strength, proved a God send by averting a calamity, the consequences of which might have included the loss of several lives, also thousands of pounds damage to the plantations.