FORESTS ABLAZE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1939, Page 5

FORESTS ABLAZE

ON 300 MILES OF RANGES IN VICTORIA

SETTLEMENTS SURROUNDED BY WALL OF FLAMES.

FEARS OF FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 10.

Fanned by a strong, hot northerly wind, the bush fires raged with renewed vigour in about 20 areas in Victoria today. Tens of thousands of acres throughout the countryside are now a blackened ruin. The destruction of houses now amounts to hundreds, but no exact figure is available. Further loss of life is feared, but, because of the destruction of communications, news from the affected parts is difficult to obtain. Many settlements in the timbered country are surrounded by a wall of raging flame, and the only hope of the inhabitants rests in the dugouts which were constructed at all mill settlements after the 1926 fires when 40 lives were lost.

The affected area now extends to Healesville, a popular hill resort 40 miles from Melbourne, to Kiewa in the far north-east of the State. The ranges for 300 miles between are all blazing. With a shade temperature of 113 degrees in the city, the highest point has been reached since the records started 77 years ago. Parts of the country registered 118 degrees. The task of the fire-fighters is almost hopeless, as many fires are burning on 25-mile fronts. When the fire reached Healesville a desperate radio appeal was broadcast for volunteer fire-fighters, and soon truckloads of men set out on a 40-mile dash. The township of Gisborne, on the Bendigo Road, is also threatened. Powelltown, where 29 lives were lost in 1926, is again in the danger zone.

Tonight a strong wind is still blowing, carrying the blazing embers for miles, and starting new fires in places distant from the main outbreaks. Desperate efforts are being made to reach townships that are cut off in an endeavour to ascertain the fate of the inhabitants, but walls of fire have for the most part prevented any communication. VILLAGE DESTROYED MANY FIRES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. HUNDREDS OF SHEEP PERISH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. ADELAIDE, January 10. Terrific heat throughout South Australia culminated today in the complete destruction of the small village of Mount Torrens, 30 miles from Adelaide. Its 15 houses and shops and the post office are all gone. The postmistress heroically remained on duty till the switchboard with which she summoned help was destroyed. Hundreds of sheep have perished. Other fires, which were aided by temperatures ranging to 116 degrees, are travelling at high speed defying the firefighters’ efforts all over the country. FIRE STILL RAGING ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IN DANGER. GRAVE FEARS ENTERTAINED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The "Telegraph’s” Melbourne correspondent says raging forests fires have completely isolated two hundred men, women and children at two timber milling centres. A hundred of them are at the Ada Mill, near Powelltown. They have not been heard of since Sunday and the gravest fears are felt for their safety. The other hundred are at Erica and are considered to be safe.