The Late Fire

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 9, 3 July 1886, Page 2

The Late Fire

TO. THE EDITOR OP THE STAR.

Sia,— lt is needless to say that the profoundest sympathy is felt on all hands' for Mr S. J. Thompson in thegreat loss he has sustained by the total destruction of his store and stock on Wednesday last- The question of a Fireßrigade, however, again cropsup, and the several miserable failure* of attempts to organise such an institution will be well remembered. It may be asked, Of what use would have been a Brigade at the recent fire? I answer, that had a strong: wind been blowing , either in an easterly or westerly direction, nothing: under the" circumstances coidd. have preyehted the aajoining buildings taking fire, which a Brigade, with evens only buckets and ladders, could haveprevented, and thus averted a,possiblegreat conflagration. Asit was several persons. exerted themselves to such an. extent as to prevent what might havebeen a much greater calamity than the destruction of the one building. I would like to give a word of ad vicewith reference to safes. If a vessel containing a little water is kept in » safe, there is a vapour generated in. case of fire which prevents books and papers from charring to a very great extent. Another precaution that should always be taken is this t Never open a safe till it is quite cool, as the sudden admission of cold air naturally causes the heated papers,. &c, to crumble at once to dust, an<j. thus render them, of little or no value. — I am, &c, Fiubely..