DANGER OF FIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 362, 24 January 1941, Page 5

DANGER OF FIRE

AFTERMATH OF 'QUAKES

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN

When the actual shock has passed and superficial damage to property investigated, it is frequently the case that following an earthquake people forget the affair rapidly and with the repair work, if -any is necessary, completed, consider the event one of the past. However, unfortunately this is not the 'case, and, as has been found in many districts,, the aftermath of an earthquake is often long-lived, and subsequent serious losses of property by fire have occurred that have been definitely attributed to ■ damage caused by quakes.

As was the case in this district when the recent earthquake shock was experienced, other localities have had many chimneys partially if not wholly destroyed, and it was with the apparently undamaged that trouble has subseoccurred. The shock has tieen insufficient to obviously damage the brickwork, yet actually the interior has been rendered unsafe and, with the lighting of fires, unsuspected cracks have exposed woodwork to the flames, with the result that an epidemic of major outbreaks has been the cause of heavy loss which might easily have been avoid- • ed.

Profiting by previous experience the Underwriters Association is acting in the Whakatane district with a view to ensuring that a minimum of risk in this direction will be taken. Thus they have detailed Mir B, Knight, of Auckland, equipped with the required apparatus, to work in •conjunction with Mr F. S. Brockett, Insurance adjuslor, of Whakatane, in making a comprehensive tour of rail districts elFected by the recent •earthquake and inspecting all chimneys. This inspection will be undertaken without charge being made ;and will embiace houses whether (covered by insurance or not, if the -owners should desire an inspection. All Insurance companies will be .represented by the inspectors. An illustration of the necessity 'of such action, and of the value it will be to owners of buildings, came before notice this week when a bricklayer, engaged to replace the top on a chimney damaged, remov•ed iron to commence work and I found by a diligent inspection that "the brickwork was damaged right to the base and that the structure was definitely unsafe. The danger arises in many cases •where a weakness may be present "in a chimney, particularly one serving an open fireplace, and may in no way be obvious without close inspection. No trouble might occur "in the warmer weather, but-months later when fires are lit an outbreak '■of fire may result. That has been the case in. other districts and therefore residents should avail 5 them•selves of the precautionary facilities being offered by the Underwriters Association, or take some similar