OTAHUHU FIRE BRIGADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 945, 11 April 1930, Page 13

OTAHUHU FIRE BRIGADE

WORK DURING YEAR The superintendent of the Otahuhu Fir© Brigade reported at last evening’s meeting of the Otahuhu Borough Council that, for the year ending March 31, 1930, the number of calls received by the brigade was 19, of which 15 were actual property fires., and one chimney lire within the borough area. The estimated actual value of the property involved within the borough area was £41,673, the insured value amounted to £34,475. Of these amounts the actual loss was £1,054, being 3s 6 1-Sd per capita of the population of Otahuhu. On these figures the brigade has saved £33,421, based on the insured values. During the year there had been a good attendance at fires and weekly parades, and a great keenness was being shown by all members of the brigade. Test fire drills have been held at the railway workshops. Special attention has been paid to St. Mary’s Home, which was considered the greatest risk within the area. During the year a series of drills had been held for the Girl Guides, at which practical demonstrations of fire risks and their prevention had been carried out. i The superintendent drew the board’s attention to the low pressure of water within the borough, which made it exceedingly difficult for the brigade to cop© with any serious outbreak of furc.

To combat this and having regard to t-lie finances, he asked the serious consideration of the purchase of a Dennis pump, capable of either taking the water from the mains, streams or wells and bringing the pressure up to more i than 1501 b. Fires occurring in some ; parts of the district, where there was no water v mains, necessitated leads of i some 700 or SOO feet of hose being used. It was decided to refer the purchase of the pump to the Legal and Finance Committee for report.