WORK OF FIRE BRIGADES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14475, 2 October 1912, Page 7

WORK OF FIRE BRIGADES.

DECREASE IN ACTUAL FIRES.

(SPECIAI, TO " THE PRESS."} WELLINGTON, October 1. The report of the Inspector of Fire Brigades (Mr F. T. Hugo) for the year ended June 30th, presented to the Houso of • Representatives this afternoon, states that the total number of calls received during the twelve months was 686, a decrease of 55 when compared with the number in the previous year, and the total number of actual fires (347) shows a decrease of 19. There has been a considerable increase in the number of fires returned as due to incendiarism, unknown causes, and in unoccupied houses, the respective increases being 9. 31, and l 7. In the majority of the'brigades a steady improvement in the discipline, drill, and method of work generally is evident, but the Inspector emphasises the need for the standardisation of appliances. The firo calls were by no means equally distributed among the larger centres, for Christchurch had the Jarge number of 256, which included 150 false alarms, while Auckland had 164 calls, including 43 false alarms; and Dimedin 91 calls, including 20 false alarms. No statistics are given for Wellington, ivhichis not in a Fire Board district. The actual fires, exclusive of chimney, bush, grass, and rubbish fires, numbered 347, of \vhich 93 were in Christenurch, 77 in Auckland, and 50 in Dunedin. Causes were recorded as unknown in 132 cases, 52 fires were attributed to spdrks from fireplaces, furnaces, copper fires, chimneys, and stoves; incendiarism was declared the cause of 21 fires, nino of which occurred in Christchurch; negligent use of candles.caused 19 fires; carelessness in the use of benzine caused 10 fires, and structural defects 14; children playing with matches and matches gnawed by rats or thrown down alight or trodden upon caused 13 other fires. Men smoking in bed were responsible for five fires.