OPOTIKI FIRE BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 176, 1 May 1939, Page 3

OPOTIKI FIRE BOARD

THE ANNUAL MEETING REPORTS PRESENTER 'life annual meeting of the, Opotiki Fire Board was held) recently. Present, Messrs F, .J. Short (chairman), J. Gordon, Wilson and 1 Gumming. The secretary (Alr.-Chas. Fleming) and the Fire Brigade Superintendent (Air. J. Shaw) were also in attendance. The estimates for the new year were considered at - length and unapproved. ANNUAL. REPORT The following report for the year ended March 31st. 1939, was presented by the superintendent:— During the period there has been little required in and around the station and grounds. The yard and station have been kept clean and tidy, for which 1 offer my appreciation to the station resident firemen. The long overdue gear shed has been comspicuous by its absence, and when wo get it, much gear at present lying in the reel room can be tidicdi up. The alarm system has given frequent faulty readings, and required attention from time to time. 1 am of the opinion that if a. new circuit could he procured the system could be brought up-to-date.

During the period we have had live calls to fire and one false alarm due to lightning. Of the fife calls one was a chimney. one a rubbish fire, one. was outside the-area, one to an unoccupied shed' and one to a. factory. Fortunately the fire damage was slight. 1 would here take the opportunity of again recommending that a salvage sheet be procured. AYe have had one call th.is month where a salvage sheet would have saved a greater part of the damage done. There have been 52 musters, 14 meetings and 5 musters to fire calls during the year and the average .attendance has been 11 members. So'me of the. business area visited during annual inspection needs cleaning up. I also am of the ‘opinion that the private alarm system installed in the nccoimmodiation houses could be improved greatly, and am willing to co-operate with the board and Jlou.se proprietors with suggestions fer making them more efficient. In concluding my report. I take this opportunity of thanking the members of the board for their support and cooperation during the year. 1 wish to convey to you the brigade’s appreciation for the generous support you have given all matters in the interest of fire protection, and to convoy my appreciation to the members of the brigade for their loyalty and cooperation throughout the year. QUARTERLY MEETING LIGHTING OF RUBBISH FIRES COUNCIL TO BE APPROACH ED The quarterly meeting of the board was held at the conclusion of the annual meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence read and approved. Tlic New Zealand Standards Institute wrote re equipment.—Received!. The Institute of Eire Brigades forwarded tlu' annual report.—Received. The Secretary of the Treasury wrote re fire engine loan. It was stated that an extension of the period was not required. Air. Clay forwarded a card of greeting. A circular received! from the Undersecretary re estimates, was left to the secretary to deal with. QUARTERLY REPORT The following report was presented by the superintendent for the quarter ending March 31st.:— Statimi.—-The station premises and grounds arc in good order, and being kept tidy and clean. Plant and Gear.—All the plant and gear is in good order at present. AYe have bad considerable difficulty with the alarm clock in the station during the last period, but at present it is in fair working order. I recommend that the present battery system used to operate the circuit ’be replaced with a transformer, the cost of which would not exceed £5. Fire .Calls. —During the period* your brigade has answered two calls, one a chimney fire andi one a rubbish fire. With reference to the latter, this could

have been a serious fire. It, took -a good deal'-of extinguishing, and owing to' the long dry spell of weatherp and the.-'closeness, of wooden, buildings,it jnight have had serious consequences had it not been discovered in tinier I recommend that the board tighten up regulations with burning of rubbish. Rubbish burning in the area is a common practice, and few persons take the trouble to notify the lighting of fires. I suggest that steps, be taken to have the- rubbish in the

business area cleaned up, suitable publication, and . authority» jto prosecute •f; for, offences where; meriac<| to property is. constituted!. ' ],• -jb Brigade.'—The brigade is at full . strength. The co-operation of all members, and -the general efficiency, leaves, no roon\ for comment. During tlie "period there has been four month- ", lj ; -meetings, .the annual,general meet'y ilig,? 13 niusters and two -fires, . i I t General.-fr#or the coming year I y recommend that provision he made ■ for the purchase of 300 feet of 'new. ; hose. Wo have some hose that will , need replacing, and this will bring ' j first-class hose up to 1000 feet. We | jjalsb recommend that the ' gear slies^.

| ‘ -previously;' ’fn potion ed be, ..erected its. jf as possible, 1 also take- this’ op-/ t '' port-unity' of again mentioning 'fife: ; plugs. Many of these in the businessi. area require re-painting. I suggest

:. ithat in future plugs ,in the Inisine&s . area be differently marked. For yopf hoard’s information, T enclose a .se'p- , Curate plan of the most suitablcvyjsStf/-v

odi of marking. I also recommend that \vi>3re;'a. plug is situated on a metal road that a 6ft. circle be sealed around it, and the - ' ping be painted '■white-as:ih -the business area. Many of these plugs . are-extremely difficult .tb- lodate.;..l also: • suggest that the board -make with the council, to place a "sack over plugs while i'escaliirg\ One plug in Church Street, where sealing work was proceeding, was sealed over and metalled. -The''indicating disc gave a. poor idea of the plug’s position and it was. found only with great difficulty. Several plugs in the area .are badly mark;.ed, and require attention. AYe- have previously written to the council re these, but there is stiH'-iioom for improvement. "... I At the brigade’s 'annual meeting, Fireman E. Webb was elected foreman for the next two years, subject to your-, board’s approval, Foreman Miller’s term*having expired. L also enclose an 'account for the brigade’s subscription to the U.F.8.A., and an account for. honours, which in> the past yoijr. ’board 'hiis met. ■ >- , ! J Board’s Decisions.

..j In. .dealing with tlur report, it was stated/by Mr. Wilson that good batteries would ho safer, as in the event of a power failure an alarm would bo given, to 'the statipn at,night.—Tho ImarcT decided to’Toitff’ tliis matter in the hands of the .AMessrs. Cunnniiig and AViJson, tlfesc members,to interview' S.uper. Wilson (Auckland) and get his opinion. . ,

In regard;to the lighting of fires m the borough, members decided to again .approach the Opotiki Borough Council-. ,and ask that- stricter measures be taken. The appointment of Fireman Ei. Webb as foreman was approved. Accounts as presented were passed for payment. General. It was decided to concrete the floor of the; new shed at the rear of the fire station; also to .provide a door and a suitable work-bench. A request was received for a new ptriiit to bos.put in the social room, the superintendent stating that a wireless set had been anonymously donated to the brigade^—The hoard l , asked Mr. Shaw to convey the thanks of" the board to the donor. ThcMpurcha.se** ~ of " a salvage sheet left in the hands of the Auckland members. The purchase of ’3CO feet- of new hose# was left in ...the hands of “the Auckland members, who stated that arrangements would probably lie made for tho hulk supply of hose for a number- of brigades.’ ! The meeting ebncluded with, a vote of thanks to the chair.