CUT OFF

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1941, Page 9

CUT OFF

ALARM SYSTEM

BURNS' FIRE ESCAPES

EVIDENCE OF SECRETARY

A statement that the Vigilant automatic alarm system upon which the firm had relied for the safety of the staff and customers had been cut off on the morning of the fire and therefore did not function, was made by Charles Archibald Deuxberry, secretary of the firm, at the inquiry into the fire at John Burns and Company, before the Commissioner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, in the Magistrate's Court.

The statement was made by witness when cross-examined by Mr. Meredith, counsel assisting the commission. Witness also stated that the staff numbered 156, but 55 were absent at the time of the fire. He admitted that there was only one fire escape which reached to within 14ft of the ground. At one time there had been steel wire ladders on the top floor, but nine years ago these had been abandoned because the then superintendent of the Christchurch Fire Brigade ruled them dangerous. In 1934 the Vigilant automatic alarm system was installed, and it was considered that such a system, with the prompt arrival of the brigade, would localise any fire that might break out in the building.

Replying to Mr. Meredith witness said that the automatic alarm system was cut off that morning and did not function.

Stairway Practically Useless

Further questioned by Mr. Meredith, witness said there was no cover over the top side of the switchboard, but had any advice been received from any authority that a danger existed in the switchboard the necessary alterations would have been carried out. He would not deny that only one person came down the stairway from the second floor at the time of the fire, and he admitted that as it turned out the stairway above the first floor was practically useless to anyone that morning as a means of escape. Nobody came down the stairway from the third floor.

Mr. Meredith: So you were relying upon your alarm system?—lf we had spent £1000 putting in the system, and had been advised of anything to further safeguard the staff we would willingly have spent another £1000 to do it.

Witness said he thought there was a fire hose on each floor. There was one on the ground floor in Mr. Parrish's office near the switchboard, but he did not know if there was a notice drawing attention to it. Fire Drill Necessary To Mr. North (for the Fire Board): There were no chemical extinguishers in the building, although instructions had been given to have them. The hose was not used because of a definite sense of fear. He thought the statement made *by Delaney about the firemen sitting on the engine after their arrival was pure imagination. He realised now, in the light of experience, that it was neeessary for a staff to be given fire drill.

To Mr. Rogerson (for the Auckland Electric Power Board): There may have been a top at the back of the switchboard, but he did not recollect ever seeing it. He was sure there was no fire-resisting top covering the wires at the back.

Detective-Sergeant Aplin said he had been in charge of the police inquiry respecting the fire. Between 8.35 a.m. and 9 a.m. there were 38 constables and sergeants at the fire, also three commissioned officers and a senior-sergeant. Between 9 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. ten additional constables arrived, making the total 52. Unregistered Wireman Howard Keith Brown, electrical engineer, said his firm employed a staff of eight and all were fullylicensed electricians, with the exception of Jack Campbell, who held a half-license, whicn did not permit him to do any wiring by himself. Witness' firm did the original instal-

lation in two departments at John! Burns', and in recent years had done all electrical work for that firm. The regulations provided that no work done should be put into operation until inspected by an inspector of the Auckland Electrical Power Board, but in the case of alterations the regulation was not always observed.

In answer to Mr. Meredith (counsel assisting the commission) witness said that permits were granted by the Power Board for three months when they had to be renewed, but if a job was not completed in the three months a renewal was not always obtained. His firm had had no permit for alterations at John Burns' since May, 1940. Witness admitted that the regulations provided that the switchboard had to be enclosed on all sides, and that the switchboard in Mr. Parrish's office was enclosed on the left and right sides and the front, but not on the top.

To Mr. Hunt: The employee, Campbell, had a practical license, which was really not a license at all, and he had no right to touch the broken plug at John Burns' premises.

To Mr. Meredith: About nine months ago witness instructed a builder to place an asbestos back to the switchboard and an asbestos top. The back was put on, but not the top. If a fire had come out of the top of the switchboard he would not have anticipated much damage being done. Mr. Meredith: Well, the damage done was about £250,000.

Work Was Simple

To Mr. North: Campbell could do work under supervision, but he was under no personal supervision between 8 a.m. and 8.20 a.m. on the morning of the fire, and he could have attempted anything. The class of work Campbell had to do was simple work. Campbell disconnected the fire alarm system but did not notify the fire brigade, which should have been notified. Witness said it was debatable whether he would have used the hose on the switchboard. It depended upon whether the water contained a mineral content or was rusty.

To Mr. Goldstine (for the Queensland Insurance Company): Campbell was an unregistered wireman and had no right to touch the defective plug. Witness did not know that no unregistered wireman should disconnect the automatic fire alarm from the brigade station. Campbell had been in his employ six years, and had failed at every examination at which he sat. At the same time witness considered Campbell to be one of the best wiremen he had employed. Campbell was still in his employ.

To Mr. Hunt: If he had a job to do to-day similar to that which Campbell had on the morning of the fire he would do exactly as Campbell did. Electricians were doing that sort of thing every day. To Mr. Terry (for the Power Board): The permits given for alterations were understood to mean small jobs. (Proceeding.)