DANGERS OF FIRES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 83, 31 December 1937, Page 6

DANGERS OF FIRES

Appeal Picnickers and Campers DAMAGE MAY RESULT "In many districts the country is beginning to show the effects of the dry weather and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the farming community of appealing to campers, holiday makers and others to take every precaution during the summer months when lighting fires," said Mr C. R. E3gecombe, president of the Hawke's Bay provincial district of the New Zealand Farmers ' Union, this morning. Every summer the loss and damage sustained by farmers and Qthers through grass fires is very considerable, and, with the exercise of a little care this could to a great extent be avoided." "Most of these outbreaks are attnbutable to neglect on the part of picnickers or others, in failing to extihguish their camp fires properly, but they are not the only offender§, as lighted cigarette butts lodging in dry grass have been responsible for a number of fires. As everyone is aware, it is a difiicult matter to cope with these fires once they are well started. If conditions are favourable a puff of wind speedily causes a large fire and, if not checked, an eiiormous amount of damage may result, involving loss of feed, damaged fences and buildings, and perhaps loss of life. "I wonld also like to suggest that the property-owners are entitled to some consideration while the public is enjoying the privileges of camping, sightseeing, of tramping. "May I again urge the need to exercise every care, and those who heed the appeal will then be happy in the knowledge that they, at least, have not been the cause of the pathetic sight of a blaekened country-side and of irate and poorer faxmers.'*