The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, NOV, 8th, 1939. FIRE DANGER AT OHOPE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 85, 8 November 1939, Page 4

The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, NOV, Bth, 1939. FIRE DANGER AT OHOPE

WITH the example of the destructive powers of scrub fires along- the Ohope foreshore, still prominent in the minds of all who saw last week-ends' conflagration, it is only natural to expect the general outcry for future protection, that ha,s since arisen. Bush-lovers will of course endorse to the full all measures which may be undertaken to prevent any further recurrance of the fires outbreaks, while all who appreciate the natural beauty of our town's major asset, will combine in representing to the authorities, the urgent need for better fire fighting organisation, patrolling and safeguarding the beautiful Pohutukawa groves that decorate the foreshore. Ohope residents are moved .on this occasion as never before. As stated in our previous 'issue, this is the third successive fire within ,six months, and unless something is done, and done quickly we will have the prospect of the whole of the native treed foreshore, being steadily blotted out, and replaced by the bareness of barren cliffs, impossible to utilise for any useful purpose, and presenting an almost hopeless task to those who would endeavour to replant. Years ago, Ohope showed an unbroken stretch of green from the sandhills to the point of the Otawairere Bay. Today the gaps 'indicate all too well the passage of fires which have swept up the cliff face and destroyed the irreplaceable native growth. Already representations are being made to the County authorities in an effort to establish .some form of control which will give a degree of protection against fire during the forthcoming holiday season, •but it is significant to reflect that the great majority of the fires of the past have been caused by bona fide residents of the beach 'itself. This alone wou'ld serve to indicate the extraordinary care which must be exercised by persons burning off, disposing of rubbish or, since many baches are equipped only with portable outside boilers, 'in the course of ordinary domestic work. Again what of the County Counail? It transpires after a brief investigation that the property on which the fires occurred was not county land, but an area of reserve, under the control of the Crown Lands Department, and further that the smaller ti-tree on the top was in the section now under control of the Native Settlement Scheme. The Council therefore, has no direct claim in the matter, though of course extends its responsibilities to all ratepayers holdung properties on the beach. Further, it controls the long triangle of land which is traversed by the old access road and leads up the cliff to its junction with the main road. It is directly responsible there for the preservation of the bush, to a point say,about halfway along to the bluff. With the menace: of fire now fully recognised, it is pleasing to find the County completely in accord with the movement to give greater protection in future, and we have been assured that the matter will form an important item of discussion at the forthcoming meeting. There are several methods whereby the present open risk may be minimised, (a) The appointment of a inspector, Fire .Warden, or ranger, (b) enlistment of a special firefighting group under a recognised head, each member of which could undertake to be responsible for a section of beach, and who could be summoned to a fire by means of a certain signal; (c) erection of notices setting out the maximum penality on those responsible for starting uncontrolled fires; (d) compulsory removal of all combustible rubbish and growths from sections abutting the cliffs. There are possibly many others but the most effective will be in the hands of the Ohope residents themselves, each of whom should undertake a definite responsibility to safeguard against the risk of fires at all times. Uu'less this is done we have a bitter price to pay for progress and expansion.