THE FIRE IN THE PIAKO SWAMP. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE RUAKURA STATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2114, 26 January 1886, Page 2

THE FIRE IN THE PIAKO SWAMP. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE RUAKURA STATION.

In our last issue we reported that a large swamp fire was burning on the Waikato Land Association's property, and was travelling southward, and that fears were entertained for the safety of the railway line. Early on Sunday morning news reached Mr Perm, the permanent-way inspector, that the station buildings at the Ruakura were in dane'er, and that the fire was rapidly spreading along the line towards Eureka. Mr Perm immediately set off for the scene of the conflagration, and upon arrival found that the tire had such hold upon some of the railway gates and fences that it was a matter of impossibility to save them. A number of men were at once set to work to save the buildings, which was done at considerable risk to life— the tire and smoke being so intense that those engaged in beating down the flames had every now and then to take shelter in the cuttings in order to escape the terrible fumes of «moke. However, after four or five hours hard work, the station buildings were bayed, and attention was at once turned to prevent further damage to the line. It is a miracle how Mr Perm and his men saved the building I',1 ', there being little or no water at hand, .uid it was only oy digging into the wet pot that they prevented further damage being done. We have not heard up to the tune of going to press whether any further damage has been done, but the glare of the flames seems to have somewhat subsided in that direction.