TOWN FIRES 1910=11.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1124, 11 May 1911, Page 2

TOWN FIRES 1910=11.

OFFICIAL RESUME. REAL CASES SLIGHTLY MOKE. The report of the working of the City Fire Department for the year ended March 31 was circulated yesterday. The Superintendent of the Fire Brigade (Superintendent O'Brien) states that tho number of calls received was '210, of these 10 resulted in total destruction, 23 in considerable damage, 49 in slight damage, 71 in. (rifliug damage, 17 in chimney fires, 23 in rubbish and gorso (ires, 41 in (also alarms. The following table giws a comparison between the past two years:— 1009-10. 1010-11. Actual fires l' r >2 -58 Kubbish and gorse fires 26 L'll Chimney fires 19 17' False alarms 50 W Totals 247 210 This shows an increase of four in the actual fires, a decrease of three in rubbish and gorso fires, ami a docreaso of two in chimney fires, and a'.decrease of six in fake alarms. Of the false, alarms given ten are, ctescrilied as malicious. Fatalities and Accidents. On May 9, 1910, at 297 Cuba Street, Mr. J. Median and Miss J. Smith received injuries through burns. On January 3, 1911, at Wellcsley Boardinghouse, Johnston Street,-Edward C'rombie, aged about 50 years, and Patrick Mabin, aged about 21 years, were burned to death, Wilfred Alcock had his right arm broken, and Hugh Campbell had his left arm badly cut. On February 27, 1911, at 15 Epuni Street, Mrs. M'Naught was slightly burned about the lower part of body. Street Alarm System. During- the year the street fire alarm system worked satisfactorily, and alterations were carried out and extensions made, as follow:—lnfectious Diseases Hospital, Newtown; corner Hnia and Waipapa Roads, Hatailai; corner Mnjoribanks and Austin Streets; corner Cleveland Street and Ohiro Road. Brooklyn; Ohiro Road, opposite Seagar's Loop, Brooklyn; Apuka Street, Brooklyn; Washington Avenue, near Victoria Terrace, Brooklyn; corner Jackson Street and Happy Valley Road, Brooklyn.- This makes a total of 88 call points. Alarm connections with tho following buildings were made during tho year:— Government House, Staples's Brewery, King's Wharf, and "W" Shed. ' This makes a total of 29 private fire alarm installations. In tbe Suburbs. , During the year the Kilbiruie Brigade was disbanded, and eight auxiliary firemen under the charge of a permanent fireman were appointed in their stead. The fire protection of Brooklyn has been greatly improved by the installation of direct telephone communication with tho Central Station and tho erection of five streets fire alarm call points. Owing to the rapid growth of South Wellington, a motor hose-wagon if urgently needed to afford better .protection to Island Bay and Kilbirnie. Expenditure and Receipts, . The. receipts of tho brigade for the year ended March 31 totalled ,£492 45., and thij expenditure A' 5393 Bs. 7d. This is equivalent to a rate of Jth of a penny in tho £. The area under protection is 9500 nerts. The discipline of tho brigade was satisfactory throughout the year. The superintendent expresses his thanks to tho memlwrs of tho Fire Brigade Committee and to the officers of the various departments, officers and members of volunteer brigades, fire police, and the Police Department- for assistance given during the year. The personnel of the brigade is:—One superintendent,, one deputy-superintend-ent,' one third officer, three station officers, one motor engineer, three senior firemen, 18 first, second, and third-class firemen, 20 auxiliary fircmcnTSd-roinnteer firemen, 30 officers and members volunteer fire police corps. ' The Plant. The plant of the brigade is as under:— Shand-Mason steam fire-engine, capacity 6511 gallons; petrol motor chemical engine and hose-wagon, 30-40 h.p.; petrol motor chemical engine and hosa-wagon, 20-24 h.p.; petrol motor fire-pump, capacity 350 gallons, 30-10 h.p.; three two-horse hose reels; Shand-Mason telescope-ladder, 65 t'eet; hand fire-escape, 30. feet; four hand hose reels; six hand hose carts; three hand chemical engines; five horses; 20,256 feet hose; four stations; six hose reel stations; 17 street fire-alarms circuits; and ?8 street fire-alarm call poiuts. A--Shand-Mavon strain fire-engine, capacity 1000 gallons, (lie property of the Wellington -Harbour Board, is, by agreement, stationed at the Central Station, and is available for city fires. The districts in , which fires occurred and alarms were given were as follow:— City, 145; Newtown, 40; Thorndnn, 22; Kolbiirne, 3; Kilbirnie, 9; Brooklyn, 3; Island Bay, 4; Northland, 1; wharves, 4; Maranui. 1; Hatnilai, 4; Berhampore, 1; Rosencath, 2; Mitchell town, 1. Principal Causes. Tho principal causes of fires ware:— Airing clothes, 3; boiling-over of fat,. 3; children playing with matches, 3; candles, 13; defective chimney, 2; defective flue, 2; fusing of electric light wire on pole in street, 2; fireworks, 2; gas-ring, 3; hot ashes, 3; match thrown down, 23: naked light in contact with petrol vapour, 2; overheat of fine, 2; overheating tar, G; spark from flue, 2; spark from smoking pipe, 2; spark from rubbish fire, 2; spark from fire, 7; spark from copper fire, 4; unknown, 42; upsetting of kerosene lamp,