FALSE ALARMS OF FIRE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20881, 14 June 1933, Page 9

FALSE ALARMS OF FIRE.

* ■ CHARGES MADE BY FIRE BOARD. FACTORY-OWNERS PROTEST. Letters protesting against charges being made for the attendance of the brigade to automatic false alarms were received at a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board last night. Present were:—Messrs T. M. Charters (chairman), E. H. Andrews, K. W. Robinson, G. C. Hill, C. A. Cooper, E. Parlane, and T. H. Butterfield.

The Vigilant Automatic Fire Alarm Co., Ltd., wrote concerning a charge made for the brigade attending a false alarm recently at the premises of Duckworth, Turner and Co., Ltd. Tlie automatic apparatus had functioned because of an escape of steam in the building, and the company considered that to make a charge in such circumstances as these where the alarm could be termed a "justifiable alarm" would affect the more general use of automatic call systems. This would not be in the interests of fire protection generally. A letter protesting against a similar charge was received from Wood Bros., Ltd. In reply to a question the secretary (Mr C. J. Treleaven) said that it had not until fairly recently been the custom to charge for attending a false alarm, because on the receipt of an automatic alarm a telephone call would be made to see if there was a fire or whether the alarm was false. Recently it had been the practice to turn out to an automatic alarm without making enquiries. Mr Hill said that it seemed unfortunate that a person should have to pay for the brigade attending when the alarm was false. It did not give any encouragement to the automatic alarm system. Mr Robinson said that the matter was a serious one, but he considered the brigade should turn out without making enquiries. He moved that a charge be made only if the board considered that the circumstances warranted that course. The motion was carried.. Other Business. The Waimairi County Council advised that it accepted the board's terms for fire protection charges in the county area and asked that the present agreement be extended for a further three years. A similar letter" was received from the Riccarton Borough Council. A letter was received from Hallenstein Bros., Ltd., complaining of the charges for connecting an automatic fire alarm. It was decided to reply that the board was already investigating the matter of charges for work of this nature. Accounts totalling £1983 lis-10d were passed for payment.