18 Dec 2004

Munitions dump shielded from New Caledonia bushfire

9:05 am on 18 December 2004

Firefighters in New Caledonia have saved a munitions dump from a large bushfire which has destroyed at least 600 hectares.

The newspaper, Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes, reports the blaze took hold at a military camp near Bourail.

An operation was launched involving troops, local emergency services and a helicopter water carrier.

Firebreaks and containment ditches stopped the fire from spreading to an ammunition store.