MOST BUILDINGS LACK PROPER FIRE EGRESS

Grey River Argus, 10 April 1948, Page 3

MOST BUILDINGS LACK PROPER FIRE EGRESS

CHRISTCHURCH, April 9. The cross-examination of Mr Roy Girling-Butcher, inspector of fire origades, was continued before the Royal Commission of inquiry into Ballantyne’s fire to-day. There are only a very limited number of buildings in New "Zealand •which comply to the egress code or the Standards Institute, said Mr Gir-ling-Butcher to Mr T. P. Cleary (tor J. Ballantyne and Company). He doubted that half the buildings in the Dominion could be brought into compliance with the code. There mignt have been a different outcome in Ballantyne’s fire if temporary’ measures of compliance had been taken by the authorities after the Jonn Burns fire in Auckland. The fire escape between Goodman’s building and Pratt’s building was well-suited and was of the type required by the by-laws, said Mr Girling-Butcher. The fire escape could have been made to conform to modern fire prevention ideas by oeing enclosed, but he did not suggest that this was the responsibility’ of Ballantyne and Company. Whfen he referred to defective construction at Ballantyne’s the same expression could be applied, in greater or lesser degree, to most of the commercial buildings in New Zealand, said Mr GirlingButcher.

It was admitted that fire brigadesmen had no effective extinguishing streams in operation up to the time of the break-through of the lire. There was every probability that it was the heating of the wallboard lining and the inflamable contents of the first floor of Congreve’s building which provided the torch for the exceptionally rapid spread of the fire. Although he would not ascribe the fault to anyone, if the brigadesmen had asked the position of the fire and the way to the cellar their efforts in fighting the fire might have been more successful, said Mr GirlingButcher. The propei* place from which the fire should have been attacked was from the opening in the cellar wall of Congreve’s building and not by gaining access from me ground floor within the shop. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS “Although there were important contributing factors such as the iate call to the brigade, the absence of positive fire protection provisions (such as sprinklers) and the absence of an organisation for, and the delay in, evacuation, there is little doubt in my’ mind that the defective construction of Ballantyne’s premises was the principal cause of the disaster,” said Mr Girling-Butcher. “You assume a late call?” said me chairman (Sir Harold Johnston). “He is assuming all these factors to exist,” explained Mr G. G. G. Watson (senior counsel for the Crown). The two main defects —the failure to protect the stairways, lift walls and other vertical openings, and the existence of large unprotected floor areas in a building of inflammable interior construction and contents - were common to mos building lives ivolving heavy damage, rapid spread and loss of life, said Mr GirlingButcher. The loss of life at Ballantyne’s fire must be attributed mainly to a wan I of appreciation by all concerned of the potentialities of a fire in a bunding of its construction and content, said Mr Girling-Butcher, after giving his views on necessary egress uylaws. An important secondary fact was that at present there was clear understanding as to the responsibilities for evacuation of a building resting on the occupier, the fire brigade or the individual citizen. Longer Ladders Were Available, But Late F.A. CHRISTCHURCH, April 9. Mr R. Girling-Butcher, Fire Brigades Inspector, was asked at the inquiry about ladders by Mr Thomas. He replied that in Christchurcn there were 35-feet ladders and a Till-ing-Stevens ladder. The Tilling-Stev-ens ladder took some four minutes to raise and operate. A 35-feet ladder had been used in an attempt to rescue the girls in Ballantynes. Had a 35-feet ladder been used, it would have almost reached the girls. Although 35-feet ladders were used in the Christchurch Brigade, he could not say whether one was available at the time. He thought that one was present at the fire at a latter stage. There were, he Said, modern ladders which were longer, but. they presented certain difficulties in transport. BREACH OF ORDERS He agreed that if the Tilling-Stev-ens ladder had been at Ballantynes at the start of the fire, there was the chance that the girls could have been saved, and that there was a breach of orders in not sending the ladder out from the station on the first call. Asked about the equipment carried by brigades for the cutting of power lines, Mr Girling-Butcher said' that he did not favour firemen who were untrained in electrical work, handling power lines, and he preferred arrangement whereby the electricity’ supply authorities were notified of fires, and they asked to cut the lines if it was necessary. The Brigades had pliers, but he did not think that they would be suitable for cutting heavy cables. When questioned by Mr Thomas on fire drill, he said that he knew of no business firms or Government offices which carried out fire drills. The witness did not agree that tne use of fire-doors in the daytime in a store such as Ballantynes was dangerous. Counsel for the fire insurance underwriters, Mr E. D. Blindell, asked whether sketch plans of all buildings in the high risk areas should be available at. the fire stations. Mr Girling-Bptcher replied that such a scheme might be useful, but he thought that the average fireman would have some difficultv in reading the plans. An alternative scheme which he considered better, was that the officers and men should be shown over the more serious fire risks. If the demand for sprinkler system increased five-fold, it would take ten years to have them installed, said Mr Girling-Butcher, when asked about the supply of sprinklers. To Mr B. A. Barber (for three Unions), the witness said that he knew of no premises similar in size to Ballantynes which had no fire alarm system of any sort. When Mr Girling-Butcher was asked at Thursday’s session into whether he was satisfied with the Brigade’s efficiency under the leave system, which meant, that th=> Superintendent and his Deputy could oe away at the same time or. occasions the witness replied, “Under the present system of leave, al] of the executive officers should bn competent to take. charge of the Brigade at a major fire.”