FIRE RISKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26623, 20 November 1947, Page 6

FIRE RISKS

NATIONAL PROBLEM • I REVIEW OF CITY AREA J DUNEDIN SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE REPORT j “A fire such as. that which occurred in Christchurch on Tuesday afternoon might happen in any town in New Zealand, and in view of wtfat has taken place so tragically#l have already begun a fresh investigation of the fire risk in this city/’ said the superintendent of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, Mr F. C. Laidlaw, when approached by the Daily Times yesterday. . “I shall be making a full report to the Metropolitan*: Fire Board at its next meeting and I am sure .that a review of the city will be undertaken immediately. / “Already, I have held a conference to consider steps that can be taken in this city as a safeguard against such a catastrophe as ;Ballantyne’s fire,” Mr Laidlaw added. “Amazement has been expressed by several people that fire could spread; -''with such speed, but we who have had to 'cope with outbreaks know only to well how flames can sweep through a building. “ Such a fire, can happen anywhere,” he said, “and I believe that the question of public risk from fire is a national technical problem. I am not in a position to go into details at this stage, but I can say t have already commenced a fresh survey qf Dunedin in the light’of what has happened in Christchurch.” f