FIRES IN 1924.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 5

FIRES IN 1924.

RECORD NUMBER OF CALLS

In his summary of the rear's working of the Christchureh Fire Brigade, Superintendent C. C. Warner states: — During the year 1924 the Fire Brigade received a record number of calls in the history of the brigade, the total number being 318, as against 198 for last year. Of these, 64 were for malicious false alarms. 26 were false-alarms from various causes, 43 were rubbish, grass and hedge fires, 3'-' were chimney-tires, and 153 were for actual fires in the city and suburbs protected by the Board. The most serious fires occurred at the Woolston Tanneries, wherein much valuable property was destroyed in a veiv short space of time. The fire-fighting plant has been strengthened commensurate with the requirements of such a largo and growing city, by a'Tilling Steven"." 85 foot petrol electric turntable firo_ escape ladder, also a large quantity of 'suction and rubber-lined hose, and a further Dennis motor fire engine. The staff have carried out their* arduous duties faithfully and well, and the work turned out by the workshops staff ranks the City Brigade amongst the most up-to-date to I>e found in any part of the world for its size. The Brigade protects a very large area (approximately 21 square miles) which fact is shown by the increased number of calls sent in from all parts of the city. The amount of water pumped from the river and creeks for extinguishing fires was approximately 715,000 gallons, and the water used from the high pressure supply 1,005,000 gallons. The total length of hose used at fires was 11.166 yards. Two loan proposals were submitted to the ratepayers for strengthening the high pressure water supply, but in each instance the proposal was turned down. This is not conducive to the interests of the citizens either from a health or fire prevention point of view, and it is to be hoped that in the near future some scheme providing for better prolection in case of a conflagration will be carried into effect. The question of installing some approved system of automatic fire alarms in factories, large warehouses, draper) 1 establishments, and public institutions, fonneoled direct with the Fire Stations, is one that should receive the attention a-nd due consideration of their respective owners, for no matter how efficient ,x Fire Brigade may be, if the "Early Call" is not received so that the plant may arrive on the scene of the outbreak whilst in its incipient stages, then the results will not tend to assist in reducing the enormous amount of £re loss which annually takes place throughout this Dominion.