BURNING SEASON ENDS

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 38, 1 October 1952, Page 1

BURNING SEASON ENDS

FIRE PREC AUTION AR Y MEASURES The attention of readers in drawn to the advertijsements appearing* in this issue proclaiming a closed fire season in Taupo townsrip and the surrounding district. Residents of Taupo in 1946 need no reminder of the vulnerabjlity / of Taupo to fire. New residents are warned of this danger, both in the town and its environs. Ti-e provisions of the Forest and Rural Fires Act., 1947 and the Forest and Rural Fires Regulations, 1951 apply to the town as weil as to the adjoining scrub lands and exotic forests. They impose eertain legal responsibilities. Ignorance of the law is no excuse when an offense has been committed. Permits must be obtained from the Town Clerk before any burning is carried out in the town from the 1st. October, 1952 to the 30th. April, 1953. Residents must not light fires for any purpose without first making application for a permit. The following hints will assist owners who desire to prepare their sections for burning and so obtain permits without unnecessary delay, as certain measures must be undertaken before a permit will be granted by the Board. Property owners, however, should have endeavoured to get their burning* done in the "off" season.

In section clearing, every precaution must be taken to prevent fire spreading to adjoining- properties. The scrub should be first cut and well forked back from the, section boundaries. .Scrub should be burnt while damp, preferably after light rain, and residents are warned against lighting fires for any purpose in the heat of the day or with strong prevailing winds. Attendance at the fire should be maintained until all danger is over and it is most desirable that frequent visits should be made after the fire to see that there has been no creep in the surface litter. Fires have been known to originate from these causes several days after burning has been completed, the smouldering material having remained dormant until whipped into flame by strcng winds. Another frequent source of fire In Taimo township is the practice of throwing hot ashes out into scrub covered back yards. Such ashes should be dumped on bare, preferably dug ground.

In the adjoining scrub lands all persons should realize the danger from "b.Tly" and camp fires; carelessness with lighted match, cigarette or pipe ashes. The singeing the pi°*s is definitely "ouC" Residents will remember that fires lit for such a purpose have ravaged the eouritry from Acacia Bay to Wairakei and threatened the Taupo town. There have been instanees of wide spread fires arising from pig hunters activities. It is ?n offence against the Forest: and Rural Fires Regulations, 1951 for any person to enter any exotic forest situated within a Rural Fire B strict, without a written permit from the owner. Such offence is punishable by imprisonment not exceeding one month or a fine not exeeeding £109. ^ Forest ownms have shown considerable tolerance in this niatter of persons entering their firests. The ''Times" has been asked however, to issue a general warning that the

Provisions of the Forest and Rural Fires Act., 1947 and the 1951 Regulations will be strictly enforced in j exotic forest areas from the com- J mencement oi the 1952-53 Fire Sea- J scii. It is emphasised that .'any j persons found trespassing have only \ 'hemselves to blame if they are in- f volved in a prosecution. The forests are ready for milling, they represent an asset to Taupo and a permanent industry can be built up to provide employment and suitability to the town, which at present is dependant to a large extent upon tourists, fishermen and the holiday trade. The public is asked especiaily to note that no permits will be issued over the week-ends. The Fire Brigade Superintendent's telephone number is 272.