THE OHOPE FIRE

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

THE OHOPE FIRE

Sir, —I would like to endorse the remarks made in the Beacon in regard to fires at Ohope. Since I have been living at Ohope, J over a dozen fires have occurred through carelessness or ignorance and as your paper says, if it continues, very little of the beautiful background of the beach will be left. It is certainly time that notice was taken of this matter and now the summer is here there will he the constant risk of fire. Further, a road has been opened a short distance into the beautiful valley of the reserve, and there is a great possibility of a fire starting there 1 which would be almost impossible to stop until the valley was out. This would be a disgrace to those responsible safety of public assets and I am quite convinced it i? time a FireWarden was appointed. With regard to fires occurring; through section holders clearing their properties there are a few. simple rules to be followed to vent any fires from spreading and they are: (1) Ascertain before you light a fire that ground is clear for some dis tance; (2) don't make one big heap and light, but make a small fire aifd feed it a bit at a time; (3) don't light a fire when there is any wind; (1) if surroundings are very have a wet sack handy. If you follow these simple rules there will be no risk of firing the bush. Yours etc,, F. MAHY, Ohope.

Sir, —I read your account of the recent destructive fire at Ohope* Three such fires have occurred during the last few months and hurt dreds of beautiful pohutukawa trees have been destroyed. It is „a downright shame that the County Council which collects hundreds off pounds a year in rates from Ghope, takes no steps to prevent such destruction by fire. The Borough Goun cil protects the property of its ratepayers from fire, why does the Coun ty Council not protect its ratepayers? The council has not even pat up boards warning people against lighting fires. And the worst of tha culprits get away with it every time. Nothing is done to prosecute and punish the offender. And so fire lighting occurs again and A few more fires .and Beautiful Ohope will be a thing of the past— its beauty gone forever. By the way, has any steps been taken to protect the large scenic reserve of pohu,tukawa (the fines ( in New Zea? land) from fire—fire breaks should be made and upkept. or the whole thing will go at one burn

Further, that silly, idiotic, bonfir- ' ing on Guy Fawke's Day whicli makes children and weak-minded, adults have fire on the brain and which causes many a conflagration should be stamped out by the police. Yours etc., POHUTUKAWA. Sir, —Apropos of the recent outbreak of fire at Ohope Beach, mention in your article that there r ; are several sections—presumably yr private—that are a mass of dry grass. One of the most prominent of sections is the one at the corner of the road racing the picnic ground This reserve section and strip; o€ 1 - road are under the County Council. The grass therein* was not cut last year, the previonsS year.it was cut and left to lie, this year, to date it has not been cu6 although frecruent requests have been made. Thus three years grass lies in a tangled mass, a great dan- - ger to the whole bush reserve anil tic 'i hillside, also to several baches in the vicinity. I It is high time something was done about the matter also the ' graceful state of the grass on the picnic ground. Yours etc., "FAIRPLAY." 'I *