BUSH FIRE HAVOG

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 42, 8 February 1946, Page 5

BUSH FIRE HAVOG

LARGE AREAS SWEPT FOUR SERIOUS OUTBREAKS The -heavy pall of smoke which has •blanketed the Rangitaiki for the. past three days originated from 'no less than four major hush lircs, -all of which are still .sweeping through heavily forested country to the South and West of the Whaka* ■tane district. The greatest of these •outbreaks is now raging in the Urq. vvera country east of Te Whaiti where a savage conflagration has al--ready destroyed millions of feet of ■standing timber. There is no liopc whatever of stopping this outbreak which according to one eye witness has swept all before it for the past three days, and is now threatening a substantial stand of millablc totara. The fire started some days ago but a continuation ©£ winds from the east and south

prevented the flames from spreading into the hush. Notwithstanding, it finally gained a hold and an area of felled bu-sh and standing manuka has been destroyed. Little or no steps can be taken to prevent further spreading in the bush itself owing to the thickness of the growth, hut employees of the State Forest Department and of Wilson's Mill, around which the flamefs had gained a strong grip, have made strenuous efforts to burn back and check the blaze. The town-ship of Te Whaiti itself is not actually threatened, because

of the Wliirinaki River which lies between ft and the fire, but a strong northerly wind might well ln’ing tlie flames right to the river’s bank. If the wind remains in its present .quarter, from the north and south east, there is a chance that the fire may be blanketed, but a strong wind from the west will immediately throw the fire deeper into the standing bush, which extends for miles and comprises thousands of acres.

Another serious outbreak has. occurred at the old bush working near Smith’s Mill at Mataliina where a lot of scrub country, which has been burning for about three weeks, is now swept and the flames are approaching the thousands of acres of pinus plantations owned by the Whakatane Paper Mills. Here, a continuous watch is maintained night and day to protect the plantations from serious threat. The undergrowth is as dry as tinder at the present time, while there is an additional danger of the heavy carpet of needles which even a spark would ignite. The authorities have combined with the mill employees to create substantial fire breaks by the use .of bulldozers, which have been working non-stop since Friday evening last. Forest patrols have been reinforced and are on continuous .duty.

A large area of manuka covered land west of Alt. Edgeeumbe also burst into flames two days ago, and covered a large stretch of country at the rear of Fenton’s Alill on the Tarawera side of Lake .Rotorua. This outbreak was not considered serious until yesterday; when it .climbed the ridges bordering the .lake and swept through to more heavily timbered country. A heavy smoke cloud covered the hills and the Manawahc district all dnj',, and the greatest concern was felt by holiday makers and bach owners on the lake itself as'the flames steadily approached the boundary of the Forest reserve. During the night, the fire appeared to have subsided substantially, but nevertheless a number of residents have already decided to evacuate the spot. The danger, however, is not considered great. e

The usual outbreak of lire which almost inevitably occurs on the Thornton sandhills about this time of the year made its appearance yesterday. The flames originated on 'a spot near Mr A. Jensen’s property, and travelled down the coast, .devouring most of the lupin and rush growth which was tinder dry. No great damage has occurred or is anticipated, but the lire must nevertheless he. confined in order to protect neighbouring properties.