§ Major Kimballasked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he can new make any further statement as to the causes of the fire in the Forestry Commission's plantation at a place of which 1503W he has been informed last April; will he state the dates when fire-belts were burnt outside the plantation; what action was taken by the forester to put out the fire and what steps were taken by the forester to warn the neighbouring tenants of the fire so that they could remove their stock from the grazings adjoining the plantation?
§ Sir G. CourthopeThe Forestry Commissioners have no further statement to make regarding the causes of this fire. The last burning of fire belts (fire traces) was done in 1941. The necessary steps to control the fire were taken by the forester and it was fought chiefly by beating with fire brooms. The National Fire Service were also present with a fire pump. The blaze had already extended over many miles of moorland before Teaching the plantations and no direct warnings were given by the forester to neighbouring farmers.