XN000022-1978-10-06 — Page 12

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1978

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WARNINGS AGAINST HILL FIRE DURING CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY WARNED VISITORS TO GRAVE SITES DURING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL TO BE CAREFUL AND NOT TO START ANY HILL FIRES.

DURING ONE DAY OF CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVITIES LAST YEAR, SOME 6,000 TREES WERE DAMAGED IN 53 FIRES. THE AREA BURNT COVERED 65 HÉCTARES (ABOUT 150 ACRES).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID ALL OF THESE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY SHEER CARELESSNESS OF VISITORS TO THE GRAVE SITES.

+THIS YEAR, FIRE GUARD PATROLS WILL BE INCREASED, AND CIVIL AID SERVICES PATROLS WILL BE DOUBLED TO 150 PERSONNEL TO ENSURE THAT VISITORS DO NOT BREAK THE COUNTRY CODE, HE SAID.

BY:

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT PEOPLE COULD ASSIST IN FIRE PREVENTION

*

CLEARING WEEDS SURROUNDING THE GRAVE BEFORE BURNING JOSS STICKS OR PAPER-

*

BURN GRADUALLY AND IN SMALL QUANTITIES-

* WATCH OUT FOR SPARKS AND HOT ASHES-

*

IF POSSIBLE. USE A CONTAINER AS AN INCINERATOR TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF FIRE-

BEAT OUT THE FIRE WITH TREE BRANCHES IF THE FIRE DOES JUMP TO NEARBY VEGETATION, DON'T PANIC AND

* DON'T LEAVE THE SITE BEFORE ALL MATERIAL IS COMPLETELY

BURNT OUT OR EXTINGUISHED.

+ THE INCIDENCE OF HILL FIRE HAS CAUSED GREAT CONCERN TO THE DEPARTMENT AND ASSOCIATED AGENCIES AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LENIENT WITH ANY OFFENDERS, PENALTIES FOR BREACHING THE COUNTRYSIDE REGULATIONS COULD RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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