FIRE INQUIRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 133, 17 March 1948, Page 4

FIRE INQUIRY

Question of Overlapping of Control

DEPUTY-SUPERINTENDENT IN BOX (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. At the inquiry into Ballantyne’s fire, Avliich Avas resumed to-day, George BlakeAvay Read, shift engineer employed by the City Council, said that records for the city Avater works on the day of the fire from noon to midnight. shoAved that the head of water was adequate. George Barnes, deputy superintendent of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, said he Avas on half-yearly leave at the time of the lire. While out shopping lie saw smoke and hurried to the station, Avhere he got his uniform and equipment, leaving for the lire by truck. lie arrived just; after a man had been brought, down off the vor* an da.

He could not find Buitoavs to report to him, Barnes said, Avhen asked about a statement by Burrows t hat, there had been some overlapping of control. Me bad regarded himself as taking control of brigade operations in Cashel Street, leaving Colombo Street to Burrows. It Avas a normal thing for the senior •dlicer to report: to the oilicer in charge at the moment, and to take over control. That Avas proscribed in the rules.