HOT WEATHER INCREASES FOREST FIRE DANGER

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5325, 11 February 1947, Page 5

HOT WEATHER INCREASES FOREST FIRE DANGER

\ Although no fires of serious probortions have been reported in the Rotorua-Taupo district -during^" the present dry spell, several small outjbreaks have been dealt with and ■■jerious consequences avei'ted. The Conservator of Forests, - Mr. "F. J. Perham, stated last night that, a fire which started in c-ld, worked-V r.ver forest in the Te .Whetu area lyesterday kept busbmen husy jthroughout the day. O.wing to the •fact that communications were somewhat difficult, Mr. Perham was -not able to report whether the outioreak had been completejy subdued ior not. Scrub fires Avere also reported from tho Tokoroa district yesterday although all these "had been of a minor nature. State Forest emnloyees "had promptly dealt with th-e •outhreaks and this, said Mr. Perham, Avas the only strategy which coiil'd Be used, The countryside was bone dry - and the strong winds which swept the district yesterday would soon have whipped eyen 'the smallest fire into an inferno. - A hedge fire at the residence of Mr. G. A. Bluek, on the Wairoa Road, on Saturday caused the Rotoruabrigade and the State Fqrestry squad fo be summoned. The hlaze was out?id.e the hrigade's area but the fire Was put out by the - Forestry engine after it had been h«d in check hy volunteers in the neighbourhoodi The grass in the vicinity is very dry and but for the prompt - action of; those upon the spot when the alarm was given, tbe blaze might have 'hssumed serious proportions. ? National Warning f In a message hroadcast over theJ main radio stations last night, the'.State Forest Headquarters in Wel-'. lington Avjarffied that . 'strong ' wiridkh had brought extreme fire danger. tV. the native forests in the Taihape^ Taumarunui Main Trunlc area. SeyAcral forest fires had assumed dangetr'i •ous proportions. ' Motorists were asked to put ouU small fires and to report large fires' tlyeatening forests in the dry areas," which extend from Taupo to Wellington and also in the Nelson and Mart-'; borough, districts. ----- . - Av? Gonditions in the -National •Parlt area might make it necessary to close'"doAvn . steam . sawmilling plants, it was;stated. . ,v. . -Y