Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Wednesday 15 December 1909, page 6


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I N T H E TOO D YA Y D 1ST R I CT. THIRTY MILES OF COUNTRY BURNED. . HEAVY LOSSES OF CROPS AND FEED. : -,.?;/- ? ?

.As reported in 'The Daily News»-last: Saturday, at the end of last week a- -big- fire raged -in-, the -direction. __of . Newcastle. It appears that the fire broke* out on the left-hand side of the Bolgart railway, near .Coondle, at .about I.1 o'clock, on Friday .afternoon. It is assumed that it . ; origihateiil

through, a spark fro.m..the..contractors'. engine falling amongst the dry 'grass. There was only about half an acre of grass at the spot, and all .might, have been well had not a whirlwind happened along and carried the fire 'right across the road and railway : into a grass paddock owned by Mr. S. Lee. ' From here the fire swept the countryside for a length of about fifteen miles by a width of from one' 'to four iniies, ^devastating crops and grass fields, and destroying mile.s of fencing. Men quickly arrived from all -parts of the district, many going out from Newcastle to assist in fighting the fire.' In all- about -350 men were engaged, and they continued their efforts throughout Friday night and Saturday. Their difficulties were immensely increased by the .frequent occurrence of whirlwinds, which over and over again caught -up the fire when it appeared to have been beaten, and carried it over roads and brooks into, patches of grass on the other: side. It was not until Saturday, night at a late hour tftat the iprogress of the destroyer was stayed, the' fire being checked near Woodsdale, ?where Messrs. Clarkson Bros. have, a ?large .area at standing crop, which happily was saved. ^During Monday the Northam 'Ad-vertiser's' correspondent traversed the whole area covered by the fire, with a

view to ascertaining the extent of the damage done. In many cases patches of* wheat, flve or six yards square, were found standing, right in the track of the 'fire, which had burned all round them. ' ? .?????? ~' .