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Sunday, November 12, 1972
NEW TECHNIQUE OF FIGHTING HILL FIRES
With the onset of dry weather, the danger of hill fires is again
threatening the landscape of Hong Kong's countryside.
Worse than that, these fires, by killing the vegetative cover, expose
the soil to erosion and destroy the natural habitats of wild animals and birds.
To combat hill fires, the Conservation and Forests Division of the
Agriculture and Fisheries Department has recently started to employ a "controlled
burning" technique by which means, fire barriers are economically created.
This is done by burning away grass and other dry vegetation at the
end of summer under controlled and carefully supervised conditions.
The roots of the vegetation are unharmed, and the plants grow again
the next spring.
A hill fire starting within such an area will not spread because it is
confined by the fire barriers of non-combustible material,
A spokesman of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department said that in
most cases, hill fires are started by the carelessness of men -- hikers, motorists
and villagers.
People from urban areas on a country visit, driving along the road or
camping out in the open, should remember not to discard either lighted cigarette
ends or matches.
Those who intend to light a picnic or camp fire ought to stay well
away from grase or wood patches, never leave the fire unattended, and be sure to
completely put out the fire before they leave the area,
/If the