FIRE PROTECTION IN AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25365, 12 December 1947, Page 6

FIRE PROTECTION IN AUCKLAND

“MANY BUILDINGS TRAPS” (P.A.) AUCKLAND. December 11“Many imposing buildings in Auckland are to the trained observer nothing more or less than fire traps,” a statement by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade. A fatal fire like the recent Christchurch tragedy could happen in Auckland, it is emphasised. The brigade had been inundated with requests to inspect buildings and advise on fir® protection control measures since Ballantyne’s fire, but it was impossible to co £2Ply in the short time. The statement urges three fundamentals in fire precautions. First, break up large floor areas with fire walls; second, cut off vertical openings such as lift shafts with fire stops: third, eliminate belated discovery and tardy action with an approved frutomatlc alarm system. Another necessity is constant fire and evacuation drill. , The statement adds: “The boarfinds all too often that staffs pay little or no attention to the sounding of automatic alarms.”