SERIOUS DAMAGE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 89, 9 January 1935, Page 4

SERIOUS DAMAGE

Smoker’s Careless Act Blamed GRASS FIRE STARTED 250 Acres Blackened Ruin By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, January 8. What is supposed to be a careless act on the part of a smoker on the Port Hills this afternoon entailed the destruction of about 250 acres of pasture, the majority of the young pine trees in Victoria Park, and a large section of tlie undergrowth and young bush in a scenic reserve of the Summit Road Trust, Besides this there was the heavy labour of some 30 men and considerable injury to sheep on the burnt area. The lire was first noticed about 2.30 p.m. by some City Council employees who were working in Victoria Park. They gave the alarm immediately and set to work themselves to beat out the flames before they took control. A strong north-west wind made this impossible. and all the beaters could do was to restrict the path of the fire to a line approximately 50 yards long. This line crept steadily up the hill toward the Summit Road, leaving a trail of smoking niggerheads and hot rocks. Recently-planted pine trees in the park itself were scorched to the level of the ground and a wire fence through which the flames spread was severely damaged. Flames Spread Quickly. Roaring and crackling in the strong breeze, the flames quickly spread to the summit and down the other side toward Governor’s Bay. Here the vegetation was so thick and dry that the beaters, with one task completed, were faced with heart-breaking work in cheeking the line of fire. The Native bush in the Scenic Reserve was in grave danger of complete destruction, and it was only the determination of the fighters which kept the flames to the grass tussocks and flax in the valley. The fire was extinguished by 8 o’clock after a hard struggle. For two miles back to the Park stretched an unbroken band of black. The lire had taken everything in its stride. Even some of the grazing sheep had their wool scorched oil’ their backs, and their eyes blinded. There were dead rabbits lying here and there, and others more fortunate were skipping bewildered from rock to rock, finding the ground uncomfortably hot and their surroundings unnaturally changed. A section of the Scenic Reserve which was destroyed, was one of the finest localities on the Port Hills, but its natural beauty has beeu marred for some considerable time. Fanned by a strong north-easter,, another grass fire which broke out to-day on the Heathcote side of St. Andrew’s Spur, near Heathcote Bridge, caused grave anxiety to farmers and householders on the Spur and on Mount Pleasant. Although a number of houses were in the path of the flames, no damage was done to them, and only a few sheep were lost. It was estimated by farmers in the locality that nearly 400 acres were affected by the fire. Flames Spread Quickly. The fire started in a disused quarry about 150 yards along the Heathcote Valley Road from the Heathcote Bridge, but its cause was unknown. It broke out soon after 2 p.m., and within a few minutes most of the hill, which faces directly to Ferry Road, was blazing. But for a violent nor’-wester the blaze would have been quickly extinguished, for more than 200 men, women and children fighting the flames with beaters did some magnificent work. Although the fire ran through many gardens, in no case was any house damaged. v One of the finest saves was of Mr. A.’C. Smart’s home, but excellent work was also done at the Mount Pleasant school, where the proximity of the flames was a source of deep concern. It was estimated that there were about 2000 head of stock on the area over which the Are passed, but measures to remove the sheep and cattle from danger were taken so promptly that no more than a. few sheep were destroyed. Most of the land over which the fire passed was tussock country, but hundreds of young trees planted by the Heathcote County Council were destroyed and probably a number of larger trees will be affected.