FOREST FIRES IN VICTORIA CHECKED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 January 1939, Page 5

FOREST FIRES IN VICTORIA CHECKED

Grim Reckoning of Deaths and Destruction WIDESPREAD ORGANISATION OF RELIEF By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 16. Light to heavy rain at almost all danger points early today ended, temporarily at least, Victoria's bush fire peril, but a thorough drenching is needed to extinguish the smouldering trees which will otherwise burn for weeks. Today’s grim reckoning shows that the fires have left a destructive wake of at least 70 dead and 1500 homeless refugees. Thirtyeight persons are now known Lo have lost their lives when the fires were at their height on Friday night. It is too early yet to assess the damage to property, but estimates place it at £1,500,000. Led by the Government, various organisations are mobilising the supply of urgent relief food, clothes and shelter for the homeless for at least three weeks. Medical opinion is that the sudden change to cool weather after the scorching heat of last week is likely to produce a new danger to the refugees of deferred shock. At least 20 victims are in hospitals, some in critical condition and suffering from severe burns. One man died at Kyneton hospital of shock after burns. Two men are still missing. Tonight more than £55,000 was subscribed for relief funds opened by the Lord Mayoi, newspapers and radio stations. Already 50 van loads of provisions and relief supplies have been sent to the stricken areas. Red Cross headquarters’ staff of 50 are co-operating with hundreds of volunteers in organising relief distributions. The Premier, Mr Dunstan, intends making a tour of the burnt out districts to ascertain the best way for the Government to organise restoration.

DISTRESSED REFUGEES.

About 350 refugees from Woods Point arrived in trucks and vans at the town of Mansfield out of the fire area yesterday, and 115 of them were conveyed later by special train and accommodated in the military camp at Seymour, where the defence authorities provided them with substantial fare.

Most of them had only the clothes they were wearing, and none saved more than a suitcase full of personal belongings. Their smoke-reddened eyes and dazed look told grimly their tale of horror. Most of them are not yet able to realise the utter destruction of their world.

All, however, spoke of the heroism of the fire-fighters in the grim battle against hopeless odds as flames raced upon the town. One man was severely scorched as he lay in a mine sluice till the water became unbearably hot. Two others endangered their own lives as they _ exposed their bodies while splashing the water in a shallow creek over a group of 100 women and children as the fire raged overhead. All spoke of the incredible speed with which 'the flames advanced, leaping from tree to tree faster than a man could run. The gale which fanned the fire was so fierce that men were unable to stand against it. The blasts of heat/ were unbearable 300 yards from the fire. RICH (DISTRICT DEVASTATED. Yarra Glen, rich dairying country 35 miles from Melbourne, was swept throughout and 32 substantial homesteads were reduced to ruins in 20 minutes. The farmers and their families sheltered in a creek and watched their homes devoured by flames, which they were powerless to resist. Postmasters and postmistresses throughout'the fire areas performed splendid service by remaining at their posts and maintaining communication till the lines were down or the offices destroyed. It is now learnt that the refugees who were evacuated from Noojee in a goods train had a narrow escape, as a long trestle bridge was burnt through and collapsed a few minutes after the train had passed. Trapped in their car while fleeing before the flames near Morwell, Gippsland. a man and his wife and their four children suffered terrible burns. They were eventually brought to Morwell, where two of the children later died. DETAILS OF DAMAGE LOSSES IN SEVENTY-THREE TOWNS. INQUIRY BY COMMISSION ADVOCATED. MELBOURNE, January 16. A check made today shows that 73 towns and townships to a greater or less extent suffered damage. A total of 1088 houses, 50 mills and 35 other buildings valued at £421,000, not counting their contents, were destroyed. The value of the forests burnt is conservatively estimated at £1,000,000. Towns which were the worst losers

were Dromana (43 houses valued at £10,750), Rubicon (100 houses valued at £25.000. Noojee (40 houses valued at £21.0003, Omeo (20 houses and 11 shops valued at £20.000), Healesville (11 houses and four guest houses valued at £26,000).

A demand is now made for a Royal commission to inquire into the cause of the fires and methods for preventing their repetition. Forestry experts at the Canberra science congress have decided to agitate for a conference of all States to investigate measures for the prevention of bush fires.