BLAZING BUSH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19722, 13 December 1926, Page 9

BLAZING BUSH

SWEEPING NEW SOUTH WALES

FATE OF MISSING FIRE FIGHTERS

DROUGHT-STRICKEN COUNTRY SUFFERS

By Telem’aph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright. Received December 12, 5.5 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 11. Bush fires in the west and-southern districts continue to rage fiercely and in many cases are out of control, but men and women are fighting valiantly under extremely trying conditions. Many narrow escapes from loss of life are reported. One man at Bethungra was trapped and his clothes burnt off him. He is in a critical condition. Children attending Daroobalg School were endangered, but women folk held the fames in check until assistance arrived from Forbes. Fires are raging around Alectown and threatened to destroy the town. The fires in the southern districts covered extensive areas, but owing to ■dislocation of communications the full extent is not known. Settlers’ wives in the vicinity of Gundagai left their homes with their children and a few valuables. Several dwellings were burned. Worst Fires in History. ■ The fires round. Goulburn arc described as the worst in the history of the I district. Many honlesteads have been burnt and much stock destroyed. The township of Marulan is surrounded by flames, and the heat is so great i that the. fighters are unable to approach within 100 yards of them. Food supplies and fire lighters arc being rushed from Goulburn. i At Tarlo and Roslyn the position is also serious. As much as ten shillings an hour is being offered in some parts for firo fighters. The town of Coolamon was saved after a desperate struggle. The disastrous fires are raging in all parts of the State. Many settlers ■ have been burned out, and vast areas of grass, standing crops, bagged wheat, ; machinery and fencing have been destroyed. Some districts report severe losses of stockGlowing stories are told of fire fighters, including women, and their endurlance and heroism, in attempts to stay the spread of the fire, and the rescue of threatened families. Numerous sensational narrow escapes are reported. Owing to the protracted spell of hot and dry weather, the fire is the worst for years. Raging Fires Spreading. News from districts in the grip of bush fires is much delayed, owing to the damage and destruction of telegraph lines. Latest reports show that they I are raging and spreading with unabated fury, sweeping across wide areas, pari ticularly in the west and the south, and causing immense damage and suffering. | A hundred families have been burned out, and a number of fire fighters from various centres are reported missing. It is feared they have perished. [Women and children are being hurried into the townships for safety, and hosj pital are kept busy treating scorched firo fighters and. others who ran the gauntlet when trapped by the flames. ■ Among the disastrous stock losses is reported a number of valuable stud cattle. Thirty horses at one station were so badly burned that they had to be [shot. In the'dairying districts many cows were so scorched that they cannot |be milked. . . ; During yesterday the Fire Brigade attended ninety-nine fires m the suburbs of Sydney—a record. A maximum of 103.9 was the highest temperature recorded this season. A southerly wind during the night brought sEght relief, but it is still very muggy. A continuance of the hot weather is predicted. A fire at Wagga destroyed a number of leading buildings, and did damage to the extent of £20,000.