Flares find

Ruapehu Bulletin, 3 August 1993, Page 7

Flares find

by

SHELLY

Shearsby

Emergency flares in used-cars imported from Japan put lives at risk. That is the message safety officers of the Fire Service are trying to get across to owners of Japanese import cars. If you have a Japanese import car you are asked to check to see if there are any emergency flares. If you find one, take it to your nearest Police or Fire Station. The flares are very dangerous. Last year a small boy was badly burned when he ignited a flare. A mother and her two small children narrowly escaped their burning van recently after one of the children accidentally kicked a flare. Cars imported from Japan can only be cleared by customs if they have documentation certifying they are free of explosives or an explosives permit is obtained if the car has an emergency flare. The Fire Service would like to express the importance of checking for flares. "All we are asking is for owners of Japanese imports to check their cars for any flares and if they find any to hand

them in. We are asking them to do this for their own safety and the safety of children," said Raetihi fire safety officer John Compton.