BRIGADE EFFICIENCY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 157, 29 March 1939, Page 10

BRIGADE EFFICIENCY

Dangers Faced By Firemen

ENGINES QUICKLY ON

SCENE The efficiency of the Brigade call, a system of immediately pressing into service all available engines and men in tlie ease of a major outbreak of lire, was again demonstrated in Wellington last night. The system was introduced by Mr. C. A. Woolley, superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, and was first used at the Aitken Street lire on February 2.

Mr. Woolley said last night that the moment he reached Victoria Street he realized the seriousness of the outbreak. Three minutes after the original alarm came through, he gave tlie brigade cull, and this was simultaneously responded to by every station in Wellington. At tlie first alarm four machines from Central, one from Thorndon. and another from Constable Street, raced to the scene of the lire with their sirens screaming. Three minutes later, in answer to the brigade call, a machine from Constable Street, another from Brooklyn, and two more from Central were also on their way to Victoria Street.

Khandallah, Northland and Miramar stations, according to a prearranged plan, also played their part and took precautions which meant that in the event of a fresh outbreak in another part of tlie city and suburbs, men and equipment would be available for instant action. A machine from Khandallah moved into Thorndon, another from Northland moved into Central, and an engine from Miramar went to Constable Street.

Firemens’ Dangerous Task.

Firemen working in close proximity to the blazing building in Victoria Street faced the combined dangers of intense heat, showers of sparks, splintering glass and explosions. When the fire was at its height gas cylinders in a portion of the building occupied by Dominion Dental Supplies, Limited, exploded with terrific bangs and blew out tlie windows.

So strong was the concussion that glass windows in premises opposite were shattered and bystanders narrowly escaped being cut by showers of glass. Pressmen and others whose duties took them close to the fire crouched under balustrades and looked with apprehension at the blazing building. fearful of further explosions. Many windows in the premists of Progress Motors. Limited, were broken, and the pavement was covered with glass. One of tlie brigade's biggest tasks was keeping the fire confined to a comparatively narrow area, and streams of water were continuously played on adjoining buildings. At one stage tlie roof of Abbot. Oram and Company’s premises, on the northern side of A ietoria House, caught alight, but firemen forced their way through the door and extinguished tlie flames with a bucket pump. Throughout the period when Victoria House was ablaze, numerous calls were received to buildings in the vicinity, and the bucket pump was in constant use.

“The fire was most difficult to combat.” said Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the Wellington Fire Board, in an interview, “and the brigade is to be highly commended for confining it to a comparatively narrow radius.” Even the new machine, delivery of which was taken as recently as last week, was utilized last night as a pumping unit. The body has not yet been assembled, nor has the engine undergone its trials. It received its baptism under unusual circumstances. Officials also paid tributes to the way in which tlie crowd responded to the instructions of police constables and traffic officers.