WATER SUPPLY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 286, 3 December 1941, Page 8

WATER SUPPLY

" UNSATISFACTORY "

LESSONS FROM FIRE

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY

The evidence of William Laird "Wilson, superintendent. Auckland Fire Board, was continued this morning when the commission of inquiry into the fire at John Burns and Company, Limited, resumed.

In spite of the necessity to use all six hoses there was no shortage of water at the fire, said witness, but this could not be said to indicate that the water supply is satisfactory generally.

A map showing the localities and quantity of water available in the central area was produced.

There had been improvements carried out at various stages since 1930, particularly in localities to which the waterworks engineer's attention had been drawn, said witness, but unfortunately the size of the mains had not been increased, though in some places larger feeder mains had been installed. Witness was satisfied the City Council was doing its best.

To Mr. Hunt: We have not enough water.

Continuing, witness said he had been drawing the attention of the council to the necessity for increasing the supply since 1930, and as far back as 1924 he had commented • upon the inadequacy of the water supply, following a large fire in Ponsonby. Since then there has been a considerable improvement in that area. Changes Being Made Witness then gave evidence as to the territory controlled by the Auckland Fire Board, the number of men on duty and the systems of fire calls. Asked by Mr. North (for Metropolitan Fire Board) what lessons had been learnt as a result of the fire, .witness said that in future no matter what the call was he would make sure that two engines were always sent. He did not consider the brigade had been guilty of any lapse in only sending one machine to the Burns fire, but the new policy was now decided upon. There was no new system in operation yet regarding duty in the watchroom.t but plans were under consideration for improving the present system. The board had a certain amount of trouble with automatic alarms, said witness, John Burns' installation giving special concern owing to the number of false alarms given. In 99 cases out of 100 these were caused by the human element, people slamming doors, and so on. However, supervision had been improved and there were less false calls now than there used to be. It would be ,of great assistance to the board if mere was a standard place in buildings for the main electrical switch. It was also desirable that there should be a closer inspection of electrical equipment. There was no evidence that the fire travelled up the liftwell in the Burns fire,* continued .witness? He suggested that,there ought to pe b$ T- ' laws making- it compulsory for- doori ways openings from »a lift on the i various floors to be sealed with fire : resisting material. There should also be a good opening at the top to allow heat to dissipate from the building and not mushroom back. Witness also suggested that in areas where there was a danger of fire spreading from one building to the next, windows should be fitted with wiremeshed glass. This would crack, but it would not break and therefore the flames would not be able to enter the building. Qnestiote of Fire Escapes The only period when by-laws regarding fire escapes were in existence, so far as the Fire Board was concerned, was between 1930 and 1933. During this'period witness paid more attention to the requirements of the boarding houses, apartment houses and other dwelling places than to commercial buildings.

To Mr. Hunt: You would be surprised at the number of boarding houses that did not have fire escapes.

Following a large fire in a Sydney chain store in June, 1938, witness reported to the local authorities on the-need for means of egress from chain stores and similar premises in time of fires. There had been ample time to have something done about the matter since then.

Commenting on the question of auxiliary fire fighters, -'witness said it would be very much, in the interest of all large firms to have staff members trained in the elementary principles of fire fighting.

To Mr. Meredith (for the general public): There was grave possibility of loss of life owing to lack of means of egress, if fire broke out in a large number of city buildings. Under the Fire Brigades Act of 1926, the Auckland board had power to make bylaws, but these were not made for four years after the passing of the Act. When provision was made for compelling owners to provide fire escapes, no notice was given to John Burns to erect adequate escapes. Requisitions were issued to a number of citv firms who had fire escapes in a bad state of repair, but, most of the notices were served on the owners of boarding houses and other dwelling places. (Broceeding.)