FIRE WASTE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1930, Page 3

FIRE WASTE

LOSSES FROAI CARELESSNESS.

AVELLINGTON, Sept. 3,

Modern fire stations, full equipment,; and well-trained men were all very well, remarked the Minister for. Internal Affairs,, the Hon P. A. de la Per-; relic, at the opening of the new Northland station this morning, but a duty devolved upon the public as well, for unfortunately far too. many, people wore extremely; careless ’ where" fire was concerned, and a. big percentage of fire waste was directly traceable to downright carelessness. “It is a safe assumption,” lie said, “that the fire waste—that is, not only actual destruction, but noncomitant lass as a consequence of fire—for the year ending December 31st. 1929, amounted to over one and a half millions of money, and the regrettable part of the matter is that very much of it should be easily preventable, for the majority of outbreaks are due to carelessness in some form. - Conclusive evidence of such carelessness lies in the fact that during the twelve months ended March. 31st. last in the fire districts, no less than 457 outbreaks of fire were reported as duo to the current being left on electric irons, kettles or heaters, gas left on rings and stoves, airing clothes before the fire, *live ashes thrown out in the backyard. and so on, all preventable, but involving a total loss of £95,620, and involving also, in some cases, loss of life.” .....