FIRE SUPERINTENDENT FAVOURS SPRINKLER AS PRECAUTION

Grey River Argus, 1 June 1948, Page 3

FIRE SUPERINTENDENT FAVOURS SPRINKLER AS PRECAUTION

CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. Cross-examined at Ballantyne’s fire inquiry, Superintendent of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, Mr A. Morrison, told Mr A. C. Fraser (for the Clerks’ Union) that radio on the appliances of the brigade would have been a help on the dav of the fire, it could have been used for a brigade call. Radio was used by the Dunedin ' Brigade and Christchurcn Brigade had applied for a two-way radio license to operate sending and receiving equipment on its appliances. Questioned by the chairman, (Sir Harold Johnston), Mr Morrison said ropes were not considered a good means of escape. He had had an experience of one on the West Coasc finding that” when he went to use n that he was attached to a coat hooK secured to the wall only by . two screws. •‘The sprinkler system is the best fire precaution available,” said Mr Morrison. “In certain circumstances the appropriate authorities should have the power to enforce their installation. I consider . that there should have been a sprinkler, system at Ballantynes.” - Mr Morrison said he could; not ‘defend the failure of Fireman Loughlin to see that Officer Shield knew of the girls trapped in Goodman’s building. Members of the brigade could have used the fire escape wnen members of the staff at Ballantynes could not. All officers of the brigade had been properly employed from the time they arrived until flame appeared. Best Means of Rescue from Fires Discussed at Ballantyne’s Inquiry P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. Asked at the fire inquiry by Mr Watson what he regarded as an effective means of rescuing people from burning buildings in Christchurch, Fire Superintendent Morrison said that the electric extension ladder was regarded by him as effective for rescues from third storeys and higher, and thirty-feet extension ladders on flat verandahs for second storeys. He had considered the use of a wheeled escape, but he regarded such equipment as ineffective and slow. Mr Watson: As a result of the fire and the evidence to the Commission, are you, or the Board, taking any steps to obtain; a wheeled escape such ■>s that, used in Dunedin?I—Witness: 1 —Witness: No. We are getting a report on modern life-saving equipment. Witness said that a wheeled escape would cost something more than ten thousand pounds. He was not sure of the figure provided in the estimates this year for life-saving equipment, but he thought it was between two and’ three thousand pounds. Mr Morrison said he was quite satisfied with the appliances and equipment at the brigade, subject ■to any recommendations in a report being obtained, on which he might amend his views.

FIRE BOARD BY-LAW DEFECTIVE Cross-examined on the Fire Boarr; by-law dealing with fire escapes, Mr Morrison agreed that it was uttenv inadequate, and added that he had always held that opinion. The by-law made no provision for internal protected escapes. If he had inspected Ballantyne’s for compliance with the by-laws, he could have Ordered nothing that was not there already. He did not know why the standard egress code not had been adopted in Christchurch. Any city which adopted the code and ensured its compliance was making its old buildings much safer. TRAINING OF OFFICERS There was no specific training for potential officers, said Mr Morrison, when questioned by Mr Watson on the training and qualifications of brigade officers. Under the present system n was not possible to train officers, ant the system needed radical changes. He considered that there should be a national training school for recruits and officers, run by the proposed Central Fire Council. Mr Watson asked Mr Morrison to disregard Ballantyne’s fire when he put questions on the responsibility of brigades to search for persons in burning buildings. Mr Morrison said that the primary duty of the officer in charge at a fire was to ensure the safety of life before the safety of property. It was a general practice for officers. There was an onus on the building occupier to co-operate, and, in the case of a daylight fire, he would expect the owner to make sure that everyone was out of the building. But there was still a duty on the officer to inquire whether evacuation was complete. Mr Morrison considered that control by a Fire Board was preferable to municipal control, and he did not favour Government control of firefighting services. The representation -of insurance companies on Fire Boards was, he considered, an advantage. COVERING UP MISTAKES! Before the chairman, Sir Harold Jonnscon, asxeci Mr Morrison several questions, he said: “It seems to m<. tnat you have attempted to cover up mistakes of your officers. Too many things went wrong”. First-Class Fireman John Maxvzell Breitmeyer, who was on the first engine which arrived at the fire, said he was at the hydrant in Colombo Street for about ten minutes. When he arrived, he saw girls on the upper floors. He could not remember anyone telling him that the girls were in danger. To Mr C. S. Thomas (for the accident underwriters) witness said he had rather a bad memory. At the time of the fire he had had only four months’ experience, said witness to Mr R. Twyneham (for the fire insurance underwriters). To Mr Watson, he said he was not prepared to swear that no one had spoken to him about the girls. Mr Watson: Did you at no stage look to see what had happened to the girls?—Yes, when I saw smoke coming from the lower windows. I thought they had gone out another way. The Commission adjourned until tomorrow.