The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1946 HINDERING THE FIRE BRIGADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 30, 27 September 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1946 HINDERING THE FIRE BRIGADE

THOUGHTLESSNESS on the part of ‘fire-fans’ in this town has been responsible for bitter complaints from members of the local Brigade, who time and time again have been hindered in their work by irresponsible onlookers getting in the way. Fires will- always attract spectators, a fact which must be recognised and catered for. The position of the Brigadesmen however must be doubly safeguarded else the whole conception of a body of voluntary fire-fighters falls to the ground. Whakatane crowds are great offenders in this respect. Not only do they continually cramp the firemen at work, but cars from all corners of the Borough race to the scene of a fire, loaded with spectators, their owners paiking them haphazardly at all angles and in any position of vantage handy to-the blazing building. The result is at times chaotic, and has actually been responsible for very serious time lags in suppressing the flames. This state of affairs was clearly illustrated last Tuesday evening when the mob almost took charge at one stage. This must be corrected in the interests of every resident in the town, and we can think of nothing better than the creation of a small but efficient working group of residents to work in with the Brigade by providing recognised officers whose sole duty it is to control the crowd. Such men would have to be' imbued with the same spirit of public service as the volunteer firemen, and would be in honour bound to attend all outbreaks with the same quick sense oLduty and application. Can this be done?