FIRE THREATENS HOUSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 13, 30 January 1937, Page 4

FIRE THREATENS HOUSES

— Own Correspoiideiit.)

Scrub Abiaze at Taupo MEN QUELL OUTBREAK

(By Telegrapli-

TAUPO, Last Night. Considerable 'anxiety was caused to a ntimber of TauJjo residents yesterday' when two sctub fires beeame but bf cdhtrol and threatened several residefices and summer cotages. Mr. G. Singh had been buxning off cut serub bil his property and &t 4 p.m. left the fire ifi what he cosidered to be a saf e conditicin. However, a tobderately Sti'ong westeriy wifid appatently carried some sparks across iiifie R&fige road and ignited the serub, Whieh CbfiSiSted ChiCfly of tall manuka afidbrodm. Nb Sbofiei- had this fresh fire started than the wind chatiged suddeiily to .the ttorth and carried the flames for a distafice of several chains ofi a fairly wide front in the direetion 0f\ a number df dwellings. By 6 p.m. the fire had asstimed fairly large pfdportions, and the occupants of two houses Were busy removing their beloiigings ifi readiness for a hurried exit. The effdrts of a small band of voluntedrs were suceessful in restrieting the fire, and eventually sucCdbded ifi stoppifig it on the edge of the fidwlyfofrned road. The gang of meil remained until about seven o'clock, when only stumps weie smouldering and the iir'e was safe. jus ton dllsk the burning^ of rfibbish' at a refuse dump spread to the surrottnding scrub, and when darkness eaifie the glare of the fire attracted a large number of spectators, 5mostj of whom aSsisted in Cutting fir'ebreaks arbund the houses ifi the line of the fire. Ofie resident had his fhrniture dnd effects loaded on to a truek, and a visitor arrived from Tauranga just in tiiiie to cary out Urgexlt work to save his summer cottage. The larger number of wofkefs pfevetited this fire from reach-.rg the same size as the former orui, attd by 1U p.m. conditions were redsonally safe. tVith no rain for the past fortnight thd scrfib and litter Was exceptibnally tlry and ihflammable, and it iS fdr. tUfiate that there was not a stronger wifid at the time of the fire, or it Wotild possibly have got ont Of contrbl, with a restiltafit Ibss of a largb number of Summdr reSidehceS SitUated - away from the bhsihess atea and tte&riy all divided by unoccupied sections dovered in dense serub.