FIRES EXTEND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 January 1939, Page 7

FIRES EXTEND

NEW OUTBREAKS IN HAWKE’S BAY

LARGE AREAS OF BUSH IN PERIL.

SETTLERS READY FOR GRIM STRUGGLE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

HASTINGS. January 12

Eush fires again cast a pall of smoke and haze over Hawke's Bay today. 1 he blaze which devastated a large area near Wakarara on Monday and Tuesday still burns spasmodically though all danger to the mill and nearby settlement appears to have passed. At a late hour tonight it was reported that new fires had broken out further into the ranges, where there are thousands of acres of native bush. Observers stated that the glare was increasing and it was believed that if the wind did not drop there was grave danger of a large area ol bush being destroyed. Settlers in the vicinity are reported to be preparing for a grim battle to prevent the spread of the blaze.

Fierce winds carrying sparks and blazing branches were responsible .for several minor outbreaks which burned out or were suppressed by vigilant settlers nearby. Late this afternoon dangerous fires broke out in the bush near Kereru. about 12 miles north of Wakarara, threatening to destroy some thousands of acres of native bush running back into the ranges. Gales drove the fire onward, with rapid changes of direction. Settlers in the district were standing by for emergency calls during the afternoon and evening. At one stage the Eaton and Simmons homesteads, near Kereru. were threatened, but a change of wind relieved the situation temporarily. Precautions were not relaxed, however, as sparks are being carried long distances, minor outbreaks occurring in many places at frequent intervals. Further north, near the NapierTaupo Road, extensive fern fires are blazing, the glare being clearly discernible in Napier, 20 miles away.

Inquiries among settlers in the ranges and foothills over a 40-mile fiont from Wakarara to Te Pohue reveal that they are exceedingly anxious concerning the possibility of further more dangerous fires occurring. The recent spell of hot weather, followed by high drying winds, has greatly increased the risk of fire where fern, cut over biish and native bush cover extensive areas.

The long distances covered by blazing sparks in the high wind makes it difficult to predict, where a fresh outbreak may occur. Settlers are keeping a 24-hour watch to prevent a repetition of the bush fire tragedies in Victoria. At present several separate fires are burning, scattered over a wide area. WATERSHED LAID BARE. BLAZE IN OHINEMURI COUNTY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 12. Between 1500 and 2000 acres of the Ohinemuri County Council’s watershed reserve, from which the borough of Paeroa and an area of the county are supplied with water, have been denuded of vegetation by a fire which originated beside the old Paeroa-Waitekauri road. The fire later spread in the direction of Komata, but by tonight had practically burnt itself out. The reserve, which contains two reservoirs, was covered mainly with fern scrub and light bush, but about 150 acres of fairly heavy bush was included in the area. The loss of the bush will not immediately affect the water supply, but the efficiency of the catchment area in dry weather is expected to be reduced. The cause of the outbreak is not known. The road is little used by through traffic, but is often frequented by picnickers and sightseers.