OUT OF CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1939, Page 5

OUT OF CONTROL

FIRES SWEEPING WIDE AREA IN VICTORIA

TOWN WIPED OUT MANY OTHERS ENDANGERED. SHOCKING DEVASTATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE. January 13. Fanned by a fierce north wind which sprang up today, the bush fires are now raging beyond control throughout the forest areas of Victoria. An area 300 miles square is ablaze, and many large townships have been evacuated, hundreds of people seeking refuge in rivers and creeks. The city temperature reached an alltime record of 114 degrees today, and up to 120 degrees were recorded in country districts. The fires are now within 15 miles of Melbourne, and the town of Warrandyte, comprising 150 buildings, was completely wiped out. The whole population is sheltering in the River Yarra. All the hill resorts at Warburton, Healesville, Ferntree Gully, Sassafras and Belgrave are blazing and may suffer the same fate as Warrandyte. Lome, a favourite seaside resort 80 miles east of Melbourne, is also in danger. Little news is available from mill towns in the centre of the burning area, but it is feared that Noojee, Powelltown, Walhalla and Erica are doomed. When the wind rose early this morning it was realised that nothing could be done to resist the advance of the flames, and preparations were immedi-

ately made to evacuate the threatened settlements. Truck loads of refugees were brought at all speed to safety points. A goods train from Noojee was requisitioned to remove the entire population. Some 250 families were removed from Warburton, one of Melbourne’s most popular hill resorts, 48 miles from the city. All the roads to the hills are now blocked by fires and communications are down. There is little knowledge of what has happened there, but, because of the early plans for evacuation, it is

believed that no lives are in danger. Only one man is known to be dead, though several parties are not accounted for. Shocking devastation has been wrought over a vast area, thousands of square miles of forest being utterly destroyed. Damage to property cannot yet be estimated. The disaster is the greatest in Victoria’s long history of bushfire tragedies, but it is impossible yet to’ gain an idea of the full extent of the loss. Panic-stricken refugees- are swarming into the city, where residents are accepting them in their homes. Money is still pouring in for the relief fund, and the “Argus” list now totals £lB,OOO.

FIERCE HEAT MORE DEATHS REPORTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, January 13. Ten more deaths attributed to the heat wave were reported from New South Wales country towns today, which, with 34 reported yesterday, makes a total of 51 in three days. Fierce heat is reported from Wilcannia, where five deaths have, occurred since Monday, the thermometer averaging 114 degrees for 10 days. The hospital staffs of western towns are working overtime and the majority of country hospitals are unable to take more patients. “We have never known anything like it,” declared the hospital doctor of a western centre, referring to the prolonged and intense heat. DEATH ROLL MOUNTS GREAT PART OF STATE AFFECTED.,, VAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.0 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day.

The latest reports on the bush fires show at least seven more people have lost their lives. Many more, however, are missing. Four children of Mr and Mrs John Robinson, in the Colac district, were burned to death.

John Loosemore, aged sixty, lost his life in Gippsland, when the whole settlement of Hillend was swept away. Another child, Edward McGinty, was killed near Casterton. An Italian named Fumina, lost his life in the large township of Noojee, Gippsland, which was completely wiped out in the 1926 fires and again suffered complete destruction after the population had been evacuated in a goods train. Warburton, Healesville and other hill resorts were saved after a desperate battle. A few houses were destroyed on the outskirts. Erica was saved by a change of wind and the population has returned.

Lome narrowly escaped, after a fire had burned within a quarter of a mile of fashionable hotels and guest houses. Hundreds of visitors took refuge on the beach. About 15 houses, including several large ones, were destroyed. Many townships have been entirely obliterated. So widespread are the fires that it is estimated that about half the area of the State will be affected The fires have reached almost the entire coastline and the who,3 eastern side of the State, from the River Murray to the sea, is afire. Many large outbreaks occurred in t'-e western and northern districts.

The ferocity’ of the fires on Friday was due to a seventy mile an hour northerly gale, before which the fires raced uncontrolled through hills and valleys. The toll of property is incalculable at present. Hardly one tourist town escaped damage. Vast areas which formerly were Victoria's scenic pride are now blackened wastes of ruin. Beautiful fern gullies and forest-clad hillsides have been swept bare. Miles

of bitument highways have been burned to cinders.

A change of wind tonight brought temporary relief, but another' north wind is forecasted today, making the State’s seventh successive day of terror since the fires began. TOTAL DEATHS DESPERATE SEARCH MADE FOR MISSING PEOPLE. — By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. I (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) i SYDNEY. This Day. j The “Telegraph’s” Melbourne cor-j respondent places the bush fire deaths I at 31, ten being burned to death yesterday, including five children. Scores I of others are missing, for whom des- j perate search is being made. ’