Fire Risk To Trees Worries Department

Chronicle (Levin), 9 December 1948, Page 6

Fire Risk To Trees Worries Department

Fireplaces made from empty bitumen drums, from which a portion of the side and top had been removed, for use at Waitarere Beach, were suggested by the Works Department in a letter received at yesterday's meeting of the ' Horowhenua County Council. The department expressed concern at the fire risk to the forestry planfcations and sand dune reclamation work in that area. ..A request for permission to erect a notice board at the main entrance to the beach was also receive'd. With regard to the prepared fireplaces, the letter pointed out that they might constitute a danger should they be partly buried or exposed after a heavy wester.y •"qxow" and that their use might not be entirely satisfactory. The council's comments on the matter would be appreciated, concluded the letter. A report on the subject from the J council's engineer and fire officer, {Mr. W. H. Fraser, commented that since the letter had been received, he had attended a meeting of Works Department engineers and representatives of the ratepayers, and he had agreed to a site for the notice board. In regard to the fireplaces, it had been decided that this was not such a practicable ldea. Further points had been raised, one of which had been the mformation that; the department was going to instal a very powerful siren on the plantation. "That facility is going to be made available for any fire in the township. The department also has a portable pump and a 600-gailon tenaer. In addition, xt is going to suppiy a small hand siren for the use of the local residents." Mr. Fraser said* that the large siren would probably be heard in Levin. In return for the use of these amemties, the residents were going to give every assistance in the event of a major blaze. The appointment of a deputy fire ofticer for that area and the control of fires along the beach had been j other points discussed. This was a new responsibility and the council did not know much about the • ramifications of it, or how far the powers of a local body went, commented the clerk, Mr. F. H. Hudson. It was very encouraging to know that there were firenghting facilities at the beach he said. It was decided to leave the matter to the engineer, Mr. Fraser, to go into and report back to the next meeting.