PROPERTY FIRES INCREASE

Chronicle (Levin), 12 October 1946, Page 3

PROPERTY FIRES INCREASE

-Press Assnciation

By Telearaph—

WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. It was necessary to call attention to the very eonsiderable increase in the number of propertv fires occurring, stated Mr. K. Girling-Butelier. Inspeetor of Fire Brigades, in his annual report on the fire brigades of the Doniinion tabled in the Tfouse of Kepresentatives yesterday. Mr. GirlingButcher said that the average in'fire districts for the five-year period 1940-45 was 989. In 1944-45 there were 1891 propertv fires, and last year the number had inereased to 1801, or nearly double the pre-war average. "The faet that losses have not inereased proportionately, " added the report, "is probably due partly to an element of luck and partly to the inereased efficienev of the lire serviee and the improvement resulting from tlie intensive training during the war years and the supply of additional equipnient purcliased for emergency purposes. ' ' If the increase in the number of fires eontinues, the initiatjng of some fire-prevention measures will be a matter for urgeut consideration by the proposed central authorily, sliould legisla- ' tion on the lines proposed be prcpared during tlie coming year." The eonsiderable increase in Ihe lire loss in fire districts last year was main* Jy due to an unusuallv high loss in large fires. Practieallv lia.lt' tlie loss last year and the prceediug year had been due to scrious fires in Govcrnment stores — at Palmers, ton Norlli in 1914-45 and at Te Awamutu last year. Mr. Girling-Butcher said that facl. was stressed, bccause £218,700 out of the £251,270 loss at Palmerston North and the whole of Ihe £115,000 loss at Te Awamutu (Il.N.Z.A.F. stores) were uniusured. Lxcludjng the fires in Goveniment stores, the loss in fire districts i'or 1945-46 did not diselose auy abnormal increase not accounted i'or by the inereased replacement valuo of property.