SCRUB FIRE AT PIHA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 13, 16 January 1946, Page 3

SCRUB FIRE AT PIHA

THREAT TO MANY BEACH COTTAGES (P.A.) Auckland. Jan. 15. Several beach cottagers were threatened when a tire which burned for about eight hours, swept through an extensive area of scrub at. Piha to-day. Working in relays about 60 volunteers, including a number of women, fought the flames with sacks and shovels throughout the day, and by about 6 o’clock the outbreak was apparently under control. However, a watch was maintained to-night because of the possibility of the fire creeping in the thick growth.

Shortly after the fire began it spread rapidly through scrub and gorse about five feet high, A light westerly breeze was blowing, and by 10 o’clock the flames covered a wide area of hillside. About 20 cottages in the vicinity appeared to be in danger, and several res : dents removed their belongings to a safer place. However, the fire, after burning about 40 feet from one house, swept further away from the threatened area. An unsuccessful effort was made to save an area of native bush after the fire had passed over the ridge and down the slope behind, but it was not until much of the bush had been destroyed that the outbreak was stopped.