Wellington's Fire Hazards Cause Alarm

Chronicle (Levin), 16 February 1948, Page 3

Wellington's Fire Hazards Cause Alarm

-4^ - Press AssocULtion)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The dang-er of disastrous and widespread fires in city and Statp buildings and the hazard created by the unchecked growth of gorse in the suburban areas were the subject of alarmed comment at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Fire Board. Governraent Buildings and the Winter Show Buildings were quoted as examples, it being stated that both constituted a considerable fire hazard and that the attention of the city council and Governmeh should be drawn to the matter. In both these cases visits and inquiries are to^be made. The chairman of the Board, Mr. S. S.' Dean, said that the" fire in the Exhibition building had been an example of what could occur in structures that were not reasonably fireproof. In that blaze a large amount of wool, which could not well be spared, was destroyed, he said. At present wool was being stored in the Winter Show buildings. In some" cases the automatic fire alarms in the buildings feferred to had been in use for 40 years, said Mr. Dean. If the Government had a practical man to inspect all such appliances periodically it would not be necessary to look into the matter. A remarkable inerease in the number of gorse fires was also reported to the meeting. During January, there were 172 reported fires, 136 of whieh were caused by the ignition of gorse or rubbish. Mr. Dean described this figure as alarming. "Island Bay has been a source of danger for a number of years," he said. ' 1 A number of houses were in danger in that locality recently. In one case the firemen had to climb to the top of a building to use the hose beeause they could not work through the gorse surrounding the building." The neglect of houseowners to mahe fire-breaks was conaemned by Mr. Dean and it was deeided to make an arrangement with the city engineer, Mr. Luke, to attempt to mlnimise the risks from gorse fires. During the discussion it was pointed out that fire-breaks could well be made by bulldozers" and owners of the 'property could elear away the ' uprooted gorse. Persons should be or'dered to clear the gorse round their homes, said the deputy-superintendent, Mr. H. Bruce. They should then be ordered to choose a suitable day and burn it«