GRASS FIRES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5246, 2 March 1928, Page 2

GRASS FIRES.

TIMBER MILL ENDANGERED.

SPARKS FROM A LOCOMOTIVE.

The services of the Paeroa Volunteer Fire Brigade were requisitioned shortly after 5 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon to attend to a grass fire at the rear of Messrs Le Manquais, Lamb and Co.’s timber mill in Francis Street.

Owing to the promptitude with which the brigade, under deputySuperintendent E. Moore, answered the alarm no damage was done, and what might very easily have been a serious conflagration was narrowly averted.

The fire originated from burning embers throyVn off by the locomotive of the Wailii train. From the time of leaving the Paeroa railway station the engine was noticed to be emitting sparks and burning embers. Some of these alighted on the dry grass, just past the William Street intersection, and a blaze was started which/travelled quickly through the grass into a hawthorn hedge, and from there into a portion of the timber-yard and along the whole area at the rear of the mill.

The alarm was promptly given by Mr Jenkinson, who lives nearby, and pending the arrival of the brigade the fire-fighting appliances, at the mill were brought into use with good effect. A lead of hose was also, run out by the brigade from a William Street plug, and in a few moments the fire was under control and all danger averted. Sparks from the engine also started several small fires among the blackberry and debris alongside the line in Taylor’s Avenue. It can be quite un < - derstood that it is necessary for locomotives to accelerate along the line fNm the station to enable the ascent to the bridge to be made, but it looked as if the Waihi and Waikato trains were racing, and that undue h;aste was being made. Such may or may not have been the case, but what is obvous to all who witnessed Wednesday evening’s incident is that during the summer at least locomotives should' be fitted with co : w]si on the funnels and so (minimise the risk of causing fires by falling sparks and cinders.