ON FIRES AND MELTING ALUMINIUM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 53, 7 June 1950, Page 4

ON FIRES AND MELTING ALUMINIUM

Sir,—Further to a recent letter in the Beacon in reference to the law concerning trees adjoining properties owned by other ratepayers, it was rather interesting for me, to read also, a report in the next issue of your paper concerning fire hazards. In that article, mention was made about the possible danger of melting aluminium roofing dropping down on firemen entering a blazing building. Now Sir, let us deal with causes first and consequent results later. In other parts of this country, fire precautions are taken by a wide fire break of about two chains where Government or private concerns grow trees. This' town, which is developing from a “one horse village” into a Borough and houses are growing up like mushrooms, it is surprising no heed is taken of the fact that during a dry summer, similar to the one just past, local fire authorities seem ignorant of the fact that firebreaks and fire prevention should be their ' first objective. Even if the law does not compel tree owners to cut down trees on their property it is up to the fire authorities to see that wide firebreaks are insisted on for the protection of neighbouring properties. I feel sure that when—** dangers of fire are clearly pointed -v out to our local fire authorities, viz. standing bush with no adequate fire protection for neighbouring houses, they will adopt a policy of fencing a precipice at the top rather than maintaining an ambulance at the bottom. Now Sir, in regard to the danger of various types of roofing used, only aluiminium roofing has been mentioned as dangerous to firemen entering a blazing building owing to spots of molten aluminium dropping on their heads. I remember when merchants used to say there was little profit in corrugated roof iron and was hardly worth handling. So today, although millions of feet of corrugated iron is manufactured and used in Australia and could be landed in New Zealand it is as scarce as “hens teeth.” Why is this so? Because we have two big monopolies supported by the late Labour Government manufacturing tiles and fibrolite roofing, operating in “God’s Own Country,” who were quite happy in their exploitation of the home builders, ■while buijjding controls and re- A strictions were applied until re- * cehtly on the use of English aluminium roofing sheets. Now, shiploads of British aluminium rocfing are being brought here and despite all tariffs can provide a beeper roof than roofing supplied by New Zealand monopolists, there is the old bogey raised about the possible danger it may be to firemen.' Naturally there are some who swallow bait, hook and sinker, so that after years of peace, we still have no corrugated iron and if the tile and fibrolite monopolies have their way, no aluminium roofing. I wish to point out to the public, that there is more danger to firemen entering blazing buildings from fibrolite or tiled rooofs than aluminium. When a building on fire has reach ed the stage or developed the heat to melt aluminium, one could imagine that the ceilings.purlins and rafters would be well gone, and not a place for any intelligent fireman to be. Should any fireman see fit to enter a blazing building at this stage, I would consider numerous sheets of 10ft corrugated fibrolite which wont melt, or a truck load of heavy tiles dropping down after all, roof framing etc. is _ out, would be more injurious to 7 firemen’s/scalps or puncturing their head gear, than a few spots cf light red hot aluminium.

Another point the public should note is, no mention was made of the melting qualities of aluminium when the price was 3/10 per foot or when it was scarce and building controls and restrictions limited its use to any great extent, so why is this nonsense being put up now? Just another racket. Is it because at the reduced price of 2/4 per foot, and supplies are getting plentiful, it is knocking some of the monopolies that have cut their tentacles into the building indtfs-' try in New Zealand? If some enterprising person had planted a hefty belt of bush adjoining the business premises of this town some years ago, regardless of any fire breaks to adjoining owners, our local fire experts might today be more interested in prevention of fire, than any numbskull who talks about danger from melting aluminium.

Yours etc., STANLEY EVANS. Whakatane, May 30.