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FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1975
DIG DROP IN HILL FIRES THIS WINTER
THE ABNORMALLY WET AND HUMID WEATHER HAS, TO A LARGE EXTENT, DETERMINED THE SHARP FALL IN THE NUMBER OF HILL FIRES THIS WINTER THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT DISCLOSED TODAY.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HILL FIRES FROM SEPTEMDER LAST YEAR TO MID-MARCH THIS YEAR IS 241 AS COMPARED WITH 1,050 IN THE SAME PERIOD OF 1973/74.
THE AREA AFFECTED THIS WINTER MEASURED SOME 240 MRES REPRESENTING ONLY SEVEN PER CENT OF THE 3,390 ACRES DAMAGED BY HILL FIRES LAST WINTER.
ALTOGETHER 25,000 TREES WERE DESTROYED AS COMPARED WITH 1,400,000 IN THE LAST HILL FIRE PERIOD.
IN FINANCIAL TERMS, ABOUT $75,000 WERE LOST THIS WINTER, WITHOUT TAKING TIME AND MANPOWER INTO ACCOUNT. THE NATURAL SCENERY AND WILD LIFE ARE ALSO SERIOULY AFFECTED.
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS MAINTAINING 13 FIRE PROTECTION POSTS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING THE HILL FIRE SEASON. EACH OF THESE POST IS MANNED 24 HOURS A DAY BY 12 FIRE FIGHTERS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THE COMMON CAUSES OF HILL FIRES ARE THE CARELESS DISPOSAL OF LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES, THE MISHANDLING OF BARBECUE FIRES AND LIGHTED JOSS-STICKS AND CANDLES.
HE URGED PICNICKERS AND THOSE WHO VISIT THEIR FAMILY GRAVES TO TAKE EXTRA CARE TO PREVENT HILL FIRES DURING THE CHING MING FESTIVAL.