MORE FIRES BUT NONE SERIOUS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 84, 3 January 1935, Page 8

MORE FIRES BUT NONE SERIOUS

Wellington Year Reviewed

EPIDEMIC OF GRASS OUTBREAKS

During the year which closed ou Monday there were no serious outbreaks of tire in Wellington. The highest losses recorded in the annual review prepared by the Wellington Fire Board were from fires in Willis Street on April 26 and in Lambton Quay ou August 27, where the damage amounted to £3OOO in each ease. On the other hand the fire statistics for the twelve months ended December 1934, show a slight increase. Those for the previous year are also shown

“While no Are presented any serious problem, the judicious use of up-to-date breathing apparatus in several cases was responsible for keeping the fire losses a.t a minimum,” the report states. “In buildings heavily charged with smoke, the denning of suitable breathing equipment allowed the bri■gade promptly to locate the seat Df the fire and ventilate the premises.” The report records that on Alarch 31 one fatal fire occurred, the victim dying as a result of burns received from the ignition of a benzine vapour mixture. Seyeral persons received burns at fires, birt these were more or less of a minor nature.

A decrease of malicious false alarms is noted with satisfaction. “Too many alarms of this nature, however, are still being received,” the report remarks. “A reward of £5 is payable to any person giving information which will lead to the conviction of anyone maliciously interfering with Fire Alarm boxes. , “In two cases, prosecution and conviction followed the wilfully setting alight of premises on January IS and June 13.

“In spite of the long dry spell of weather the brigade lias been fairly free from calls to gorse fires. This is mainly attributable to the vigilance of the inspection department, working in conjunction with the city engineer’s Department. A. joint gorse drive throughout the city and suburbs was responsible for the removal of many dangerous growths. Before a permit is isshed an inspection is made by a brigade officer. The permit is only granted where the gorse has been cut down, suitably distributed in small heaps for burning, and a fire break of sufficient clearance to prevent the possibility of closely adjacent property being endangered. “Considerable trouble has been experienced with grass fires, however. On Christmas Day and Dec. 27 outstanding call was made on the services of the brigade and on the latter day no fewer than 26 calls were answered (a brigade record) and of these grass fires predominated. The areas principally affected were Wadestown, Ngaio and Khandallah, and most Of the calls closely followed the passing ci’ railway locomotives. “To replace the last of the auxiliary stations a new building was erected at Khandallah and this is in charge of a permanent officer. The station was commissioned on May 29. Three resident auxiliary firemen sleep on the station each night. Additions to plant include an inspection van having suitable fittings for the safe transport of all makes and types of extinguishers. This appliance is proving of much value to the brigade. “To allow of improved acceleration and road performance the pumping unit of an appliance which has been In service for some years has been assembled on a jiew short wheel-base chassis, the conversion having proved most satisfactory. Among additions to the equipment are a number of improved variable nozzles, a half-hour set of self-contained breathing apparatus and a number of respirators. “A decided speeding up of brigade operations at fires has been noted since, the advent of the instantaneous couplings. “The servicing of private fire equipment by the inspection department is now actively undertaken and no fewer than 948 inspections and tests were carried out during the year. This covers 184 buildings where advice on the use of equipment and matters connected with lire prevention was given to occupiers.”

1934 1933 Property 107 (154) Chimney 72 (il) Gorse, grass and rubbish .. 293 (204) Justifiable false alarms 102 (100) Malicious false alarms 110 (loO) Total calls 744 (694)