SWEPT BY FLAMES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1944, Page 2

SWEPT BY FLAMES

LARGE AREA AT TAUPO.

CAMPERS LUCKY ESCAPE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 6. Thousands of .acres of scrub and partly-forested, country have been swept by flames since small fires started on the north-western shores of Lake Taupo about three days ago. Fire broke out between Acacia Bay and the Maori pa opposite the Taupo township, and in the intervening period has swept some 12 or 15 miles of country to a varying depth. It is under control, but not beaten. Up to the present the fire has consumed much of the vegetation on the north-western shore of Tapuaeharuru Bay, at the north end of Lake Taupo, as far as Kangatira Point, where it may burn out. The flames, which gained their initial success in the vicinity of Acacia Bay, swept along the foreshore, destroying much of the attractive beach shelter. So quickly did the fire take command that campers, forced to pack hurriedly, found that egress by road was virtually impossible. Boats were scarce, and terrified women and children found refuge with their belongings ill front of'Mr Downers cottage, where at one stage huge sheets o.t flames, roaring across from the hills, threatened Io engulf (hem. Men fought rcsolutel.Wand the campers’ effects were all saved, though one party had to submerge theirs in the lake’ to defeat the flames. OUTBREAK AT LAKE TARAWERA. CONCERN IN ROTORUA DISTRICT; (By Ti'l<’P.rapli--f’r<ws' Association.) AUCKLAND, January 7. Further concern was caused in the Rotorua district in an entirely now direction yesterday, when lire broke out in the country bordering Lake Tnrawera, between the Croon Lake and Mt. Tarawera. The tiro spread rapidly through the dry undergrowth and threatened the caretaker's house at Lake ’Tarawera. At. one stage the caretaker's residence and oilier buildings were completely encircled. Later tiros started to swing toward the tearooms at the buried village and the scrub country surrounding' it. The fire created a serious menace to Government planted forests edging the Blue and Green Lakes. A forestry fire patrol sent an urgent call to the commander of the Maori troops and a detachment, complete with stool helmets and fire-fighting equipment, was quickly sent to the scone. The men proceeded to cut firebreaks and take other precautions, and toward evening the threat had abated.