LOSSES BY FIRE

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 230, 29 September 1926, Page 6

LOSSES BY FIRE

,A DUNEDIN DISCUSSION. MOVEMENT T'O EDUOATE THE PUBLIC. Fusing of elecfiric wires caused a fairly heavy fire loss in the Dunedin fire district last year and this fact was commented upon by members at a meeting of the F ire Board , when the annual report was being discusseed. Mr W .B. Taverner said the matter had been discussed by the Electric Power and Lighting Gommittee of the City Council, and _ the opinion appeared to b© that fusing was 110b a very prevalent cause of fires, but, acoerding to Superintendent Napier 's report, such was tlie case. The loss through the fusing of electric wiring had been very high. Air J. J. Clark .said that this loss was probably du© to neglect or bad wiring. They had to- include loss by electric irons, lamps, and heaters when considering the total. Ihe cause of so many such fires liad been frequently discussed hy the City Council. Superintendent A. G. Napier said the brigade was always in touch with the Electric Powei' and Lighting Committee. He inclnded in the fusing list of losses only thosie which were definitely known to liave been caused hy fusing of electric wiring. Mr A. Burn said a very large nuniber of calls had heen received to fires caused through th.© fusing of electric wires and backfirinig of motor vehiclse. He cited a case where a house had been badly damaged, where, although they could not prove it, there was every indication that the outbreak was due to defective electric wiring. An effort was being 111 ade to see if something could be done to educate tlie jieoplei in the prevention and danger oi fire. Something was wrong when the total fire loss of tbe Dominion last year was over £1,000,000. This was preposterous in a country which liad a population of just over a million. Perhaps something could be donc to lower this fire wast© by getting the Education Department to distribute printed information on fire prevention through the medium of the School Journal. Such information was distributed throughout America. If tlie people of this country could be brought to lealise the grave loss that was being brought about through carel essaiess with naked lights, smoking and other ways, something niiglit be done to lesse n tho loss oonsiderably. Tlie present great loss through fire was probably due to ignorance on tbe part of thc people, In connection with this matter tlie tsecretarv of tlie» board read a letter from the Under-Secrotary of tbe Department of Internal Affalrs wliich referred. to the large number of fires that occarred in tlio .Dominion, and in consequenc© of tlie frequent loss of life and the excessive ilestiuction of property the Government had published a circular 011titled "Fire Precaations for Householders." Tlie Department oi Internal Affairs sugfeested that all local governing bcdics might distribute the cirenlars. in their respcctive distriets. The boai'd, after discussing tlie matter, decklccl that something should he done to educate tlie people to take precautions in regard to fire. It was resolv«?d that a copy of tbe Government's circular be forwardod to the Otago and Soutbland Fire Underwriters' Association.