FIFIRES IN AUCKLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1930, Page 2

FIFIRES IN AUCKLAND

SUPERINTENDENT’S ANNUAL REVIEW. AUCKLAND, Dec. 30. In the fire annals of Auckland the year 1929 deserves to be remembered with satisfaction, for the year was devoid 'of any outbreak of magnitude. Very, largely this is due to modernisation of the city’s fire alarm system and the high state of efficiency maintained in the fire fighting force, factors that‘enabled many. dangerously incipient fires during tne year to be nipped in the bud. Reductions in the number of calls and false alarms, are satisfactory features of the return furnished by the Auckland Fire Brigade Superintendent (Mr W. L. Wilson)' for the twelve months just ended. The figures are: Tires 1929 1928 Actual fires 254 272 False alarms 84 107 Chimney fires ( 34 19 Rubbish or grass ... 103 179 Outside the district ... 12 32 Total calls ... -... 487 009 The value of property destroyed by fire was about £60,000, which is not far in excess of the. loss incurred as the result of a single big fire in 1928. There was only one fatal fire, Miss Sadie Lynch losing her life at the Hotel Cargen fire. The false, alarm nuisance last year was reduced to something like normal proportions, the abnormally high figures in 1928 being due to the operations'of a gang 9f larrikins, who at one period called the City Brigade out on fruitless quests every night for a week. It took a serious threat by the Auckland Magistrates to mete out drastic punishment to anyone caught red-handed to put a stop to the nuisance.