Chairman Comments On Fire Inquiry

Chronicle (Levin), 1 June 1948, Page 6

Chairman Comments On Fire Inquiry

, Pfess Association)

(Per

CHRISTGHURGH, May 31. When the cross-exammation of the' .aupqrintendent of the Christchurch Fire Brigade (A. Morrison) was resumed at Ballantyne's fire inquiry today he told the , "chairman (Bir Harold Johnston) that ropes were not eonsidered a good means of escape. He had had an expanence with oue on the West Goast, finding when he went to use it that it was attaehed to a coat hook seeured to the wall only byetwo serews. "The sprinkler system is the best' fire precautioii available, " said Morrison. "In eertain cireumstanees, the aPEroDdate autliorities should have power to enforce their installation. Wrtness said he could not defend tne failure of Fireman Loughlin to see that yhield knew of the girls trapped m Goodman's Building. Members of the Fire Brigade could have used the lire escape when members of the staff at Ballantyne's coulcl not. Gross-examined on the Fire Board bylaw dealing with fire escapes, Morrison agreed that it was utterly inadequate and added that he had always held that opinion. The bylaw made 110 provision for internal protected escapes. If he had inspected Ballantynes for compliiance with the bylaws, he could have ordered nothing that was not there al-' ready. He did not kuow why the standard egress code had not been adopted in Christchurch. Any eity wliich adopteci the code -and ensured its compliance! was making its old buildings much safer. There was np specific training for potential officers, said Morrison when questioned by Mr. Watson on the training and qualifications of brigade 01ficers. Under the present system it was not possible to train officers and the system needed radicai changes. He eonsidered there should •he a nUtjonal training school for reqruits andi officers run hy the proposed Central Fire Council. Mr. Watson asked Morrison to disregard Ballantyne's fire when he put questions on the resp'onsibility of bngades to search for persons in burning buildings. Morrison said the priniarv clutv of the offiher in charge at a fire was to cnsmre, safety of life before safetv oi projicrty. It was the general praetice for officers. There was an ouus on a lmilding occupier to cooperate and in the case of a daylight fire he would expect the owner to make sure that evervone was out of the building. But there was still a dutv on the officer to inquire whether evacuation was complete> Morrison eonsidered that control bv Fire Board was preferable to munieipal .eoiltrol and did nat favmir Go\-e>-nment control of the fire fighting services. Before the chairman, Sir Haroiq Johnston asked Morrison c,e-"'er',i onesjtions, he said: "It seems that you have attempted to cover up the mistakes of your officers. Too many things went WTong." The Commission adjourned till tomorrow. J