FALSE FIRE ALARM

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 7

FALSE FIRE ALARM

Alleged Result Of Dare Three fire engines from the Christchurch Central fire station •ped around Cathedral square into Colombo street, and stopped at the intersection of Colombo and Gloucester streets, a little after 8.30 last evening. There was no fire but a broken glass and a turned handle on a fire alarm box indicated that some person had set it off purposely. A large crowd gathered and soon the firemen were hemmed in. It was not until the arrival of three police officers that the crowd dispersed. According to a bystander who claimed to have seen all that happened, the alarm was given as the result of a dare, by one of a gang of youths who meet in Colombo street every evening. He •aid that it was probably set off ■s a source of annoyance and to

spite the police officers, who patrol the area near where the alarm /was set off. The officers frequently - tell the gang to disperse as they ; block the footpath. • The firemen replaced the broken ! glass and then reset the alarm. |' This was the second call received the fire brigade, from thei ?- Colombo and Gloucester streets intersection fire call box this year.