FIRES IN CANTERBURY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 8

FIRES IN CANTERBURY

Flames Sweep Plantation and 400 Acres of Pasture STRONG NOR’-WEST WIND By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, January 25. A strong nor’-west wind to-day added danger, now ever present in Canterbury, of grass fires. Several outbreaks, some serious, occurred, and lli’ines were carried at a great speed by the strong, hot wind. For three hours to-day between 400 and 500 men fought with a grass and gorse fire which threatened to cover a wide area in tlie Aylesbury district. It was not brought under control until it had destroyed several miles of fencing, swept through a plantation of gum trees, and about 400 acres of pasture. Tlie flames at one period threatened the school house, which was saved by the prompt action of a graop of fire lighters. Tlie fire was finally arrested about three chains from the home of slr. H. Walker, which was saved by ploughing a fire break rapidly with a tractor. About 15 poles carrying the main power lines from Lake Colc-riuge were damaged, being charred about three feet from the base. One pole was destroyed, Poles carrying telegraph lines were damaged for half a mile, and some may have to be •■eplaced The large force of fire fighters was assembled by the Post Office calling up all telephone subscribers. HOMES THREATENED Blaze Near Bottle Lake By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, January 25. Defying the efforts of about SO men, a fire which started in a plantation near Bottle Lake to-day spread through trees and scrub on an area of two miles long by half a mile wide until it reached the bare sandhills by the sea. The fighters had a stern battle throughout the afternoon and into the night, but, hindered as they were by dense volumes of smoke and terrific heat, they could do little more than see that dead and dying patches of burnt area did not break out into flame again. A large party of men is keeping an all-night vigil over the fire-swept area. No houses were burned, although one or two were at times threateend. Anxious farmers all over the Plains arc ploughing fire-breaks round stacks and homesteads.