§ 66. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that 75,00o young trees were recently destroyed by fire which swept almost unchecked through the Forestry Commission's North Lincolnshire nursery woods; and what steps have been taken to control outbreaks of fire on other Forestry Commission estates.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI think the hon. Member must have in mind a fire which occurred at Willingham Forest on 4th May, which was started by a passing goods train and which burnt 35 acres of the Forestry Commission's young plantations. The fire did not go unchecked but was combated by Forestry Commission employees, fire brigades from8W Market Rasen and Lincoln, and by prisoners of war.
As to the second part of the Question, very elaborate steps are taken at all Forestry Commission areas to protect the plantations against fire. As a preventive measure fire notices are prominently displayed and leaflets are periodically distributed through various channels; patrols are maintained night and day during danger periods. Fire fighting apparatus and fire beaters are stored at vantage points, and arrangements exist at all forests for summoning assistance from fire brigades, neighbouring estates, military and civil camps, etc.