FIRE BOARD.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20491, 9 March 1932, Page 13

FIRE BOARD.

PROTECTION FROM SCRUB FIRES. The Christchurch Fire Board met last night. Present: Messrs T. M. Charters (chairman), E. 11. Andrews, K. W. Robinson, G. C. Hill, E. Parlane, and T. H. Butterfield. An apology was accepted from Mr C. A. Cooper. Mr T. M. Charters was re-elected chairman, and Mr E. 11. Andrews depu-ty-chairman of the Board. The chairman, deputy-chairman, and Mr C. A. Cooper wero re-elected the executive and Piuauce Committee. ■ City Water Supply. The Town Clerk (Mr J. S. Neville), instructed by the Water Supply Committee of the City Council, wrote thanking the Board for forwarding Superintendent Warngr's report on the fire in Lichfield street on January Cth, and for commending to the committee's attention the portion referring to the City water supply. The last-mentioned matter was being investigated by the City Engineer. The Board was thanked for its undertaking that when a fire occurred in dry weather the Superintendent would notify the Water Department of the Council. The letter was received. " Scrub Fires. The Christchurch Drainage Board wrote asking upon what terms the Board would provide protection from fire for the Board's property in the Bromley riding of the Heathcote County. The chairman remarked that as the colder weather was coming on and as there was no desperate hurry, the matter might be held over and discussed with the Superintendent. Mr Andrews said that the excuse made by the Superintendent for» not going to the scrub fires in the vicinity of the Drainage Board's property waa

that if he had done so it would have been at the risk of leaving the City unprotected. The chairman: Exactly; it is outside the area. Mr Andrews: It was a special case, and he could have gone if he wished. The question is, how far should we gc outside the area? Mr Hill said tlfat the protection should be given if the Drainage Board was prepared to pay. Mr Andrews: If money is forthcoming, the Superintendent's excuse falls to the ground. Mr Hill said that if the brigade went outside the area, in accordance with guarantees, it would be recalled if an enormous conflagration broke out in the City. • . Mr, suggested that owing to the state of some of the roads in the Bromley riding it might not be safe to send some of the Board's plant to the district. As to the question of water, Mr Butterfield said that the New Brighton bri .gade had saved three or four houses, se that there must have been some water about. It was decided to ask the Superintendent to submit a report to the next meeting. Deputy-Superintendent's Report. The deputy-Superintendent's report for the period, February 4th to March 4th, set out that the total number of calls was 20; of these five were for fires in or on property in the City area, seven were for glass, rubbish, and hedge fires, two were for malicious false alarms, two were for justifiable false alarms, three were calls to Eiccarton, and one to Fendalton. £ Estimated fire loss .. 1151 Insurance on buildings and contents affected .. •. 4895 Estimated value of property at stake .. • • 6390 The report was adopted.