FIRE destroys forests

Taupo Times, Volume 19, Issue 97, 15 December 1970, Page 1

FIRE destroys forests

Taupo, centre of the worst forest fire ever known in New Zealand 24 years ago, is now well into another dangerously dry fire season. In 1946 fires raged for three whole months in scrub and forest surrounding Taupo and at one stage the township was completely cut off by fire. Last November firemen and volunteers battled for 26 hours to bring a fire which swept from Acacia Bay to Rangitira Point under control. Taupo 's chief fire officer, Mr S. K. Christensen, has warned that the present dry conditions were being experienced earlier than usual in this fire season. Without any significant rainfalls for over a month the area is tinder-dry . Mr Christensen said that he believed the general public was now more fire-conscious than they had been in past years. At this time of the year more social activities are held outdoors with barbecues and hangis being featured. "Holidaymakers naturally tend to be happy and carefree, but I hope that they will not be careless," said Mr Christensen. In the first 10 days of this month 13 calls were answered by the Taupo Volunteer Fire Brigade compared with 20 calls for the whole month last year. Taupo is the centre of

what will be before long one of the country's primary overseas exchange earners — the timber trade — and it is the duty of every New Zealander to protect this valuable commodity. Car Stickers Half a million car bumper stickers have been produced for the New Zealand Forest Service and these are to be distributed through service stations to encourage motor-

ists to prevent forest fires this summer. It is felt that the use of the stickers will serve as a reminder to other drivers to refrain from throwing cigarettes and matches out of car windows. "Our aim is to saturate the country with the bumper stickers," a Forest Service spokesman said in Wellington. "The carelessly thrown cigarette butt is still our major concern," he added.