BURNS' FIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 253, 25 October 1941, Page 6

BURNS' FIRE

SCOPE OF INQUIRY CAUSE AND ORIGIN BIG TASK FOR MR. HUNT (0.C.) WELLINGTON, this day. The appointment of Mr! F. K. Hun£ S.M., as the commission of inquiry to investigate various matters connected with the' fire which recently destroyed the premises of John Burns and Co., Ltd., at Auckland was confirmed to-day.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, stated to-day that, with the concurrence ot the Minister of Justice, Mr. Mason, Mr. Hunt would be available to undertake the investigation almost immediately.

The commission is asked to report as to the following matters:—

„ *l) The cause i»nd origin of the fire; (2) the effectiveness of action taken by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade to combat the fire; (3) the efficiency and adequacy of the existing plant and equipment of, the brigade for fire-fighting purposes generally; (4) the efficiency or otherwise of the organisation and the (training of the brigade; (5) the ade- | Quacy of the waler supply available L 1? xv e Auc kland metropolitan fire IS* l or . fir e-fighting purposes: (6) the desirability or otherwise of closer supervision and control being exercised over the location of electrical equipment and the installation thereof in buildings; (7) the adequacy of the existing building bylaws in operation in the Auckland metropolitan fire district in regard to fire-proofing of lift wells and other vertical openings; (8) the protection of exposures of buildings from fire and related problems; (9) the desirability or otherwise of applying to existing buildings • the present bylaws or any by-laws subsequently made providing for adequate means of egress from buildings in the case of fire; (10) the desirability or otherwise of occupiers of business premises Instructing their staffs in the elementary principles of fire protection and the holding of fire-fighting or fire escape drills; (11) the applica~n. a ny defects in the general efficiency equipment, organisation or system of training of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade to fire service in New Zealand generally, in so far as it shall be apparent to the commission: (12) any other matters winch the commission is of opinion should properly be the subject of inquiry in relation to the fire or public criticism arising from the fire.