FEARS OF FOREST FIRES

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1947, Page 7

FEARS OF FOREST FIRES

Press Association

MAIN TRUNK COUNTEY VEEY DRY

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. Couditions favourable to a repetition of last year's disastrous forest lires are reported from the Main Trunk forest 'area between Taumarunui ahd Kangatua south of Ohakune, and unless there is an immediate lmiirovement in the situation it may be necessary to order steam-operated haulers and bush looomotives to cease operations for the time being beeause of danger to the dry busii from sparks. tieverai small -lires have occurred in this area during the past week but they have been easy to control. The' higli wind which sprang up this afternoon has iucreased tne lire hazard which is causing the fcitate Forest fcService considerabie concern. The Direetor of the Service (Mr. 'A. K. 'Entrican) stated tonight -that the country in the iUain Trunn area between Taumarunui and Kangatua w*as very dry. There had been a long period of over four weelcs of dry weather withoul. rain, fleavy devvs had held the j>osition so far. There had been several small fires in tne area durmg the past week, but all of these had been fairly easy to control and were in old woncings. A lire, which although giving troubie was under control, luul been reported that day between Kaurimu and tne Xational Fark. it was being held at present by tlie raiJvvay 'line but should there be a change of wind the situation would be senous, for the lire would cross the hue iuto green virgih bush on the 'other side. Gnless there was an immediate ini provement it seemed an inescapable conclusion that it would be uecessar) to close down stoain-operated haulers and bush locouiotives. Mr. Entrican said that thp couditions were not so bad in the Rotorua and Taupo areas wliere last year s disastrous forest iires occurred. in these areas there had been some rain which had eased tne situation. An appeal to farmers to suspcnd al! land burniiig operations and to motor ists and all otliers to extinguish ali lires they were capable of deaiing vvitli was made by Mr. Entrican. Fires be 3'ond their scope to deal with should ue reported lo tlie nearest post oiiici without delay.