PLANTATION FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1932, Page 8

PLANTATION FIRE

ASHBURTON OUTBREAR. ‘LARGE AREA OP PINE TREES DESTROYED. ASHBURTON, January 27. A' fire 'broke out in one of (the Ashburton County Council’s .plantations at Punawai about 10.30 this morning. A large, number of unemployed men were immediately transported ■to the scene, and, . under, the direction of the Count;. Inspector and the engineer's staff, assisted by a number of farmers in the district, cut breaks to prevent the spread of the fire. A large area ol Pinu s ins ignis trees were destroyed. A light westerly breeze was experienced to-day and grave concern was still being felt at a late hour to-night as in the e\ent of a strong wind such ns prevailed yesterday, another outbreak would result in even more serious damage than that' caused at Eating. Five men were sent out bv the Ashburton County Council to Marawhiti yesterday with a pump and a hose to saturate the large dumps, of sawdust on the old mill . site. The task of completely drowping: the fire, however, was too big and after the mater j;i] had been well soaked the men were withdrawn this morning. The sawdust will probably smoulder for some days. Thousands of acres, of grass were burned and fairly extensive damage was .done to two of the Ashburton [County Council’s plantations of fiw acres each by the fire at Ruling ,Vestei - day. •