EMERGENCY FIRE SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23302, 12 April 1941, Page 4

EMERGENCY FIRE SERVICE

VOLUNTEERS FOR CITY SCHEME GOOD RESPONSE TO APPEAL The formation of an Emergency Fire Service for the Christchurch metropolitan area was carried a stage towards completion as the result of a well-attended meeting of intending volunteers held at the Christchurch Fire Station. Superintendent A. Morrison presided over an attendance of about 200 men. The aims and objects of the Emergency Fire Service were outlined by Superintendent Morrison, who said that the immediate requirement was for some 275 volunteers, who would be giverian intensive training in firefighting. Recruits would be on the same basis as for any other territorial service, and would be part of the defence forces of the country. They would be medically examined and attested, and then would be drafted to the central fire station for three months’ intensive training. It was the intention that the recruits should be paid as in other terriorial service and they would be issued with uniforms and steel helmets. During the three months of intensive training the recruits would have to attend parades of one hour’s duration four nights a week, and a twohour parade on Saturdays. The metropolitan area had been subdivided into various divisions and sections, and the recruits after passing through their preliminary training at the central station would be posted to divisions most accessible from their homes. When the first three months was completed, parades would continue to be held at regular intervals. It was intended that officers and section-leaders should be chosen from the ranks of .the volunteers during the early period of training, and only a limited number would be appointed so as to leave room for promotions from the rank and file. Superintendent Morrison said that a medical board would sit shortly after the Easter holiday to examine volunteers. Orders had been placed for further equipment and it was expected that rapid progress would be made after the holidays. An appeal was also made for volunteers for fire-fighting under the Emergency Precautions Scheme. Superintendent Morrison said plans had been drawn up for a subdivision of the city into very small areas which could be intensively patrolled by men in groups of two, as a means of observing and dealing with incendiary bombs and other outbreaks of fire. To carry out the scheme efficiently, 600 men would be required. These would be posted in pairs to different localities, and in case of an emergency, each couple would patrol its allotted area in a motor-car equipped with anti-incen-diary apparatus. For this project no medical examination was required of volunteers. All that was needed was that they should be reasonably active men who were prepared to give their services in an emergency. They would not parade regularly, but after receiving initial instructions would report periodically to their division 'commanders for further training. At the conclusion of his address, Superintendent Morrison answered a number of questions relating to details of both schemes. Enrolments were taken from those present at the meeting, when the greater proportion handed in theii names as volunteers for the Emergency Fire Service.