THE TIME FACTOR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 295, 18 April 1941, Page 4

THE TIME FACTOR

UPON the speed of the fire-fighters getting to the scene of an outbreak, depends completely their success or otherwise ,in controlling the flames and saving human life and property. The deplorable fact which arises from the recenttragic fire in Eivers Road was the wastage of vital time in summonsing the brigade. Though it has to be admitted that, an earlier arrival could not have prevented the tragedy which so shocked the town, the very fact that so. many persons seeilng the fire made no attempt to contact the station, and that the only person who attempted to use the automatic alarm fell short of the most essential part of the, simple operation points to an astounding lack of knowledge and public interest. We refuse to believe that apathy was the chief cause of the brigade's belated arrival, and cling to the kinder and more reasonable assumption that the average person in Whakatane is in ignorance of just what to do in the case of fire emergency. Providing the siren is not sounding it becomes the duty of all persons noting the outbreak to get in touch with the station at once. That is usually rudimentary knowledge, but apparently by Jieir own confession half a dozen people who saw the recent outbreak assumed that the brigade had been summoned and was either there already or on the way. The failure to set the alarm mechanism in motion should also ave been obvious when the siren was not sounded as a result. Surely commonsense should play a part in dictating t e simple procedure of calling up the fire brigade when every moments delay means a growing loss. Only the hope of safeguarding future victims of fire outbreaks, has prompte the writing of this article and we know that Whakatane citizens will not be slow to respond by complete co-operation with the limited Fire Brigade members who in spite of the difficulties of the times are doing their utmost to maintain a service which is absolutely. vital to the well-being and. protection of the community.