FIRES RAGING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 429, 13 January 1933, Page 5

FIRES RAGING

(Press. Assn.-

SERIOUS DAMAGE CROPS AND BUILDINGS DESTROYED OVER W1DE AREA TOWNS CUT OFF

-By Telegrrph — Cocy.right).

Sydney, January 12. Bush fires are raging in many districts as the result of the heat wave. The plight 6f Fassifern on the maih railway 'line from Sydney to Newcastle is serious. The outbreak destroyed the railway station building and several adjacent dwellings, and delayed the north coast and Newcastle mail trains for three hours. The passengers had a terrifying experienCe. Extensive damage was done to Neweastle suburbs. Nine homes were destroyed at Toronto, Wallsend, and Cardiff; while at Dudley the Presl>yterian Church, hotel and stables were gutted. Several collieries were menaced, but the firefighters managed to beat the flames back. The destruction of the telephone and telegraph lines by the fire cut many northern towns off from Sydney. The temperature in the Neweastle district yesterday reached 110 degrees. An extensive fire is now raging on both sides of the roadway at Mount Victor'ia Pass on the Blue Mountains. Sweeping downhill the fire ate up hundreds of acres of scrub. At Woy Woy the residents, almost . overcome by blinding smoke, were forced to seek shelter on the beach. A number of women fainted. In Ihe West and Riverina, many acres of grassland and in several instances crops and haystacks have been destroyed. Numerous outbreaks also occurred in the metropolitan area.