FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1983 ·
8
PARK FIRE RISK STRESSED
***
DRIED VEGETATION, BRANCHES AND TREES FELLED BY TYPHOON ELLEN WILL BE ADDING TO THE RISK OF FIRES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE THIS YEAR.
AND THE GREATER NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE, ESPECIALLY TO THE COUNTRY PARKS, ANTICIPATED DURING FINE AND DRY WEATHER WILL ADD MUCH MORE TO THESE FIRE HAZARDS.
SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR K.C. IU GAVE THESE OBSERVATIONS DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE TWISK MANAGEMENT CENTRE IN THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK TODAY (FRIDAY) TO LAUNCH THIS YEAR'S COUNTRYSIDE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.
MR IV SAID THE AUTUMN WEATHER IS ESPECIALLY WELCOMED BY OLD AND YOUNG ALIKE AFTER A HOT, RAINY SUMMER.
+CONTRARY TO COMMON BELIEF, A WET SUMMER LIKE THE ONE JUST PAST IS NO REASON FOR COMPLACENCY WHEN IT COMES TO HILLFIRES, + HE SAID.
A WET SUMMER MEANS ABUNDANT GROWTH OF GRASS AND UNDERGROWTH. ADDED TO THIS ARE THE DRIED VEGETATION, BRANCHES AND TREES FELLED DURING TYPHOON ELLEN'S PASSAGE LAST MONTH WHICH WILL ACT AS NATURAL FUEL IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, MR IU SAID.
MR IU WARNED1 +ALL IT TAKES ARE A FEW DAYS OF STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AND ALL THE DAMP AND MOISTURE LAID DOWN DURING THE SUMMER WILL BE EVAPORATED.
APART FROM THESE NATURAL ELEMENTS, MR IU SAID, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO TO GRAPPLE WITH THE HUMAN ELEMENTS WHICH ARE EQUALLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
HE SAID: +FINE DRY WEATHER WILL BRING FORTH HOLIDAY-MAKERS BY THE THOUSANDS WHO, NATURALLY ENOUGH, WILL WANT TO HAVE THEIR PICNICS AND BARBECUES IN THE OPEN AIR.
+FARMERS TOO, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FINE WEATHER TO BURN OFF GRASS AND RUBBISH, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO THE FIRE HAZARD.+
ALL FIRES ARE CAUSED BY CARELESSNESS AND CALLOUSNESS OF MAN, MR IU SAID.
→THE LOSS OF NATURAL HABITAT FOR OUR ALREADY SCANTY BIRD AND ANIMAL LIFE IS INESTIMABLE, AS IS THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY LOSS OF VEGETATION AND SOIL EROSION.+
HE APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO HEED THESE WARNINGS AND PROTECT THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM FIRE, PARTICULARLY DURING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL.
/+OVER THE