A YEAR'S FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 265, 7 November 1919, Page 7

A YEAR'S FIRES.

THIRTEEN INCENDIARIES. JjOSSES TOTAL £151,153. Out of the 410 actual fires that occurred in the Dominion during the past year, states the Fire Brigades' report, p resented to Parliament by the Minister of Internal Allaire, 13 arc reported as due to incendiarism, 11 ac having occ.f/red on unoccupied premises, and 152 as of unknown origin. A source of danger from fire, latelj arisen ac an outcome of modern developments, is the domestic flat-iron heated by electricity, several fires having been returned as being caused through leaving the current ewitched on when the iron is not actually in use.

Losses throughout the fire districts: The three heaviest district losses occurred in Auckland (£45,849), Christchurch ( £27,433), and Waihi ( £21,440). The total loss for the twelve months ending June 30, 1919, amounted to £151,153, ac compared with £245,80(5 for the twelve months ending June 30. 1918, a decrease of £94,053.

The insured loss throughout the Dominion for the year ended December 31, 191S, amounted to £462,540, and throughout the fire districts for the corresponding period the insured lose amounted to £07,805, or under 15 per cent of the total loss. CASUALTIES AT FIRES. The following casualties to civilians and firemen, due to fires, hae been reported to superintendent* of 'brigades as having occurred in their respective districts: — Auckland. —February 2. 1319: Fire in private dwelling—an elderly woman severely burned, and subsequently died in consequence. February 1 , .), 1919: Fire in hotel —one man suffocated and eeveral others injured. May 26, 1919: Fireman thrown off motor and injured whilst'returning from a fire; ultimately recovered.

Christchureh.—February 4. 1919: Fire in private dwelling—the occupier taken to hospital suffering from severe chock; su-lwequently recovered.

Dunedin.—August 14, 1018: Fire in private dwelling—woman taken to hospital partially suffocated and in a serious condition; ultimately recovered. November 8, 1918: Fire in private dwelling—a Chinaman found dead; death caused by suffocation. May 26, 1919: Fire in ' three-storied -boardinghouse— boarder injured through jumping from top-floor window; ultimately recovered. Hamilton.—March 12, 1919: Two firemen injured through 'being thrown of! motor fire-engine whilst returning from a fire; both recovered.

Now Plymouth.—ilay 20, 1019: Whilst working at a fire one of the firemen was severely cut on "hand. A summary of fire losses gives the following figures: Insured, £119.267: uninsured, £31,886; total, £151,153. Tho Auckland figures are: Insured, £45,459; uninsured, £390; total, 1 £15,849.

Hamilton: Insured, £3147; uninsured, £1370; total, £4517.

W.iihi: Tneured, £8545; iininsnrcd, £12,901; total, £21,44 G. COST OF BRIGADES. The cost of fire brigades, including capital expenditure for the year ended June 30, 1010, was £40,520 5/10rincludin£ Auckland £12,000, Christchurch £8585, Dunedin £8500. For the year to end June 30, 1020, the Auckland brigade <■«*!- mate is £12,305. The Wellington figurc-e are not given.

CAUSES OF FIRES. The causes of firce arc set out ayfollowe: Ashes, live, 14; benzine, proximity to lights, 7; birds' nests, 1; candles, drapery, etc., in contact, 24; clothes,-airing before fires, 4; defective building, 4; defective chimneys, hearths, 21; defective hot water services, 2; electricity, fusing of wires, 10; electricity, iron left switched on, 4; electricity, imperfect insulation, 1; fumigating, 1; gas, defective fittings, 7; gas, explosions, 3; gas rings, stoves, 5; ignition of picture films, 2; incendiarism, 13; kerosene lamps, explosions, upset, (i; kerosene heaters, overheated, 2; matches, children with, ]3; matches, rats, 1; matches thrown down alight, 11; methylated spirits, filling etoves, 2; motors, back-firing, 4; naked lights, 3; overheating, beeswax, fat, etc., 9; overheating, machinery, exhaust-pipes, 9; overheating tar, 11; overheating wood, proximity to furnaces, 3; painters, burning off paint, 1; emoking, 10; smoking, cigarette butts, , 4; sparks from chimneys, 4; sparks from copper-fires, 0; sparks from machinery, 1; eparks from engines, G; sparks from fireplaces, furnaces, 19; eparke from .other flree, 7; spontaneous combustion, 4; unknown, 152; total, 41C. , THE AUCKLAND BRIGADE. The following report forwarded to,the secretary of the Fire Board, covers the inspection of the Auckland Brigade and station: "An inspection of the' Auckland Firo Brigade with its etations and equipment was made on the 28th and 29th ult., when the turnout at the several stations was performed efficiently and in quick time. The stations and equipment generally were in good order, and a decided improvement "« - as manifest in the drills carried out at the central station on the evening of the 28th. N.o improvement hae yet been made as to the distinctive marking 'of the positions of the street fire-alarm boxes, but I understand this matter will be attended to simultaneously with the work of installing the new fire-alarm system. In its local conditions, particularly in respect to the block risks and to the rapidly increasing number of individual buildings of larger cubical capacity, Auckland now has all the characteristics of a large city, and with a.

view to the future effectual co-ordination and economic working of the brigade, together with, as far as possible, the standardisation of plant and appliances, a schtme covering the policy to be followed now" and in the future should be idrawn up. In the past, owing to the long-drawn-out negotiations for the amalgamation of the various suburban districts with the city proper, it has not been possible to lay down any definitely comprehensive line of action, but the time has arrived when euch a scheme can be drawn up with some degree of certainty, and to that end I submit the following recommendation for the considerations of your board: (1) With the exception of the Dennis and Thorneycroft machines, all your motor hoist tenders are more or less underpowered foi the work they arc called upon to perform. Reserve horse-power is an essential for all motor fire appliances, and. as one at least of the motors now in use has become unreliable, I recommend that a 60 horse-power motor machine, of special construction for fire brigade work, be procured, the equipment of the machine to include a first-aid pump outfit and a 35ft Ajax ladder. (2) Workshop at the central station to be fitted out with a lathe, drill, forge, tape and dies, and other necessary smaller tools. (Note I —The economical and other aspects ir connection with this recommendation were discussed, when in Auckland.) (3) The erection of a new substation at oi in the immediate vicinity of the junc^ioi

■pt Ponsonhy and Franklin 'Roads. (Note. This would enable both St. Mary's Road and Rose Road Stations to be done away ■with, and in addition to greater efficiency would also prove a more economical system of working.) (4) Provision of marJ ried quarters at the Remuera substation. h(Note.—ln connection with this recomfor various reasons, the reiinaining portion of the original section ((about 20ft frontage) on which the station is erected should be purchased immediately.) (5) The provision of a fire station on the waterfront. (Note. — IThie is a matter that in ite several bearInge towards the scheme as a whole requires serious consideration, but beyond that does not call for action at present.) If have to suggest that the two first recommendations, marked 1 and 2 respectively, be given effect to immediately, land in that connection enclose herewith a specification embodying certain requirements in the equipment of the proposed new motor machine. — (Signed) 'Thoß. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades-