Fire Destroys 5000 Pine Trees At Waitarere

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1949, Page 4

Fire Destroys 5000 Pine Trees At Waitarere

Through the carelessness of a picnic party, 5000 pine tfees planted by the Public Works Department at Waitarere were destroyed by fire on Sunday. The fire started well back 'towards the coast, but swept through the tinder-dry grass to- the plantation and ignited the pines on the southern side of the Whirokino Cut in the Manawatu River. The fire in. the grass was observed about 2 p.m. but it was then some distance away. The fire spread rapidly and caught the pines, which were originally planted eight years ago, and were well established. Ten P.W.D. men with fire fighting equiument, assisted by three farmers, fought the flames for five hours. They were handicapped by lack of water. Had early aetion not been taken, the results might have been disastrous to the plantation work on the sea coast. A picnic party was observed in the area of the outbreak that morning. The need for visitors to the a,rea "to ensure that fires are extinguished before their , departure is again emphasised, and for the exercise of extreme care in selecting places to light fires.