OHOPE FIRE ECHO

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 94, 29 November 1939, Page 5

OHOPE FIRE ECHO

STEPS FOR PREVENTION 'COUNTY COUNCIL'S DECISION At the monthly meeting of the "Whakatane County Council held ;yesterday, the appointment of honorary fire inspectors for the 'Ohope district was considered •as a method of preventing any repetitions of the fire which :swept the cliff recently. It was ifinally resolved that Cr McTlready, who had offered his services in this connection, should •call a meeting of the Ohope for the purpose of suitable appointees "for the positions and to inform; residents of Ohope concerning the views of the County Council on this matter. The County Clerk read the by-laws :governing fire control by County Councils and outlined the duties of 'honorary fire inspectors, whose authority was to be recognised by all citizens and the Police Force when controlling fires. Methods of Protection. Cr McCreaily said that it was ■ about time something was done in the matter. There was not only the appointment of inspectors to con'sider, he said, but the question of clearing some of the sections, as a further method of prevention, had also to be faced. "In some places the grass is very long," continued Cr McCreaily. "anil if a fire starts it would get well away before anything could be done. After the dry there is a big risk." The chairman considered that the appointment of inspectors would compel the residents to see that there was no chance of a fire starting on their sections in the dry grass Cr McCreaily: Yet, but under the Act there would have to be a good Tire going before the inspectors 'could exercise authority. The Chairman: Unless we can have the co-operation of the residents we -can't do much ais far as clearing the 'long grass is concerned. Caused by Residents. "The Council will have to be drastic in its measures," said Cr Spence. "Ninety per cent of the fires that have occurred at Ohope have been caused by residents." The Councillor further considered that the council ought to clear any sections at Ohope •over which they have controlThe Chairman pointed out that "under the by-laws, any person lighting a fire within sixty yards of a road, private by-way, or any dwelling or building, was liable to prosecution, and, if convicted, a penalty not exceeding £10 could be imposed. Cr Luxton said that if it became known at Ohope that inspectors had "been appointed the residents would •exercise more care. This Councillor further pointed out that Ohope is a "thickly-populated area and the proposal of the Council to form a firedistrict might involve the County Council in considerable expense for fire-fighting equipment. Meeting to be Called. Cr McCreaily moved that all areas under the Council's control should have the grass mown. He also under-, took to call a meeting of the Ohopp ratepayers for the purpose of informing them of the Council's views. It was resolved that for the Coun- • cil's information, a copy of the Fire Regulations should be obtained; further, that it be advertised that any persons lighting fires at Ohope which are considered to be a menace or a danger, will be prosecuted; that all County Council sections be cleared; and that Cr McCready confer with the Ohope Ratepayers' Association. Further discussion resulted in an 1 enquiry from a Councillor concerning the authority of the Council in ordering private sections to be - cleared. It was moved and seconded that the County Clerk be instructed 4 to find out if the County had power to order the clearing of a section, where that section was considered a fire danger.