FOREST FIRE DANGER

Chronicle (Levin), 16 October 1946, Page 6

FOREST FIRE DANGER

-Press Association

EARLY WARNING TO PUBLIC

By. Xelegrayh-

WELL1NTON, Uct. 15. With the fire hazard developing very early in the whole of the State Fqrest Service's lioldings in the Taupo:. Kotorua area tliis year through dry conditions with no appreciable rainfall for 1 2 days, precautions are already being taken by the serviee to avoid fire such as the disastrous outbreak that swept Taupo in the first months-of the year. As there are no immediate prospeets qf relief through rain in the district, ,a regular sustained patrol with air surveillanee is likely to be brought into operation. ■ A standard procedure for dealing with major outbreaks has existed in the fcitate Forest Gervice for years but the oflieer in charge of fire liazards said today that it took a fire like that at Taupo to throw the 'wliole subject into proper perspeetive. As tlie result of the Taupo disaster additional readiugs of atmospheric conditions will be taken and better coordination of all ■ main forest interests effected. The preparations, however, could' only be within the scope of available persoimel. Eecently a display had been held of the -fire fighting equipnvent used, including a special type of machine capable of carrying 400 gallons of water, !lOthqr equipment has been a portable radio set, trailer pump and hose-laying truck. The display was intended to ;show what is being done to meet a national emergency and included not only forestry machines.but also those of the fire serviees. In addition fire detection equipment as used ini • look-outs was demonstrated, such as an instrument for recording the bearing of a fire, radio which had been improved in its (idaptatioii to the serviee since the Taupo fire, and a low-speed aeroplane for spotting, which, thougii not an innovation, was expected to do good work again this season. Army vehicles converted to fire engines and water carriers, were being introduced in increasing numbers. Though all precautions* were being taken by the serviee, said the officer, the best security against fire was in the hands of the publie who could not be too often lyarned against -the etfect of an almost oblivious act Such as throwing a lighted cigarette butt down in the vicinity of a forest or of indiscriminate burning otf operations by farmers, especially in very dry weather.