DUNEDIN FIRE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 23382, 27 September 1939, Page 3

DUNEDIN FIRE BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board was held yesterday afternoon. Members present were Mr W. W. Callender (chairman), Messrs W. A. Scott, W. B. Taverner, E. H. Ferguson, W. W. Johnstone, and L. G. Wilson. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The superintendent (Mr R. H. Price) reported that of 11 actual fires attended during August not one could be regarded as serious. There were 17 chimney fires and one gorse fire._ Of 17 false alarms, three were malicious, five justifiable, and nine automatic. South Dunedin attended 13 calls and Roslyn 10. Causes of Outbreak. —Back-fire, 1; cigarette butt, 1; dropped lighted match, 1; defective chimneys, 2; defective hearth, 1; overheating of fat in oven, 2; short circuit, 1; sparks from kitchen range, 1; and spontaneous combustion, 1. Total, 11. Properties Affected.—Dwellings, _ 6: attached outhouse, 1; motor vehicle, 1; and shops, 3; total, 11. Staff and Plant.—During the month the sub-stations at South Dunedin, Roslyn, Green Island, and Mosgiel were inspected, and buildings and plant were found to be in good order. Four motors visited the wharves for pumping tests, which proved quite satisfactory in each instance. All "the plant is in good order. Air Raid Precautions. —Lectures by the instructor provided by the Defence Department were continued during the month, and on August 29 members of the brigade underwent a practical test with masks in a gasfilled chamber. Fire Protection of Oil Tanks. On August 15 a party of four officers from the brigade attended a demonstration of the use ,of the fire-fighting appliances installed by the Vacuum Oil Company for th© protection of their oil tanks. The company’s engineer explained the method of operating the main foam-generating plant, and the uses of th© various valves, prior to riving a practical demonstration. On August 22 the staff of the Associated Motorists’ Petrol Company, employed at the company’s premises, earned out further drills with foam-making appliances. . The drill was carried out under the supervision of a brigade officer, who reported that the various evolutions were performed in a very satisfactory manner, and expressed the opinion that with a few more months training employees would he competent enough to hold in check an incipient outbreak until the • brigade arrived. _ , . Water Pressure. —Water pressure at the various stations had been as follows ;— Central — 9 a.m., 881 b; 7 p.m., 1021 b; South Dunedin—loslb, 1201 b; Roslyn—ls3lb. 1581 b; Green Islandgauge removed.