BALLANTYNE’S FIRE INQUIRY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25427, 25 February 1948, Page 8

BALLANTYNE’S FIRE INQUIRY

“Buildings Doomed Before Brigade Arrived”

OPINION OF OFFICER J. T. BURROWS

Because of the lateness of the call to the Christchurch Fire Brigade, Ballantyne’s buildings were doomed to destruction before the brigade arrived on the scene, said Third Officer James Thomas Burrows in cross-examination before the Royal Commission yesterday. “But, if that was so. you must have taken immediate steps to rescue the people?” the chairman (Sir Harold Johnston) asked. Officer Burrows explained that his opinion had been formed since the fire on November 18, when 41 lives were lost. Asked by Mr G. G. G. Watson, who led the evidence for the Crown throughout an examination extending into two days, to attribute the cause of the cellar fire’s becoming a major conflagration, Officer Burrows said the fire had been going for some time before the brigade was called: he was not informed of the smoke beyond the closed fireproof doors: he was not informed that the cellars were interconnected; he was not told that access could be made to the cellar in Congreve’s building from the fire-escane alleyway between Goodman’s and Pratt’s building or through the partitions of the furnishing department. Even if the true facts of possible onenings had been disclosed and water played into the cellar, the fire would still have got away. Officer Burrows said. Except for difficulties in the type of the veranda, ladders to reach the girls in Goodman’s and Pratt’s buildings were available. said Officer Burrows. No officer but himself had the right to interfere with the dispatch of the electric extension ladder from the Central Fire Station. “When the fire broke out it did so with such magnitude that it was too late to go and inform anybody,” he replied when he was asked why steps were not taken to inform somebody in Ballantyne’s that evacuation was necessary. Officer Burrows was in the box throughout yesterday’s sitting, and his examination and cross-examination were finished at 5.25 p.m., by which time he had been a total of eight hours 51 minutes in the witness box. At the end of his examination of five hours 35 minutes by Mr Watson he was given an opportunity to express his own views to clear up any points raised in the questioning.

Resuming his evidence, Officer Burrows said the flash-back of flames from Goodman’s to Pratt’s building was at 3.56 or 3.57, three or four minutes before the brigade call was made. After Mr K. Ballantyne was rescued, he gave orders for more deliveries into Cashel street by St. Albans and No. 9 crews and gave Officer Stevenson instruction to take over and cover the Lichfield street side. Assistance from other brigades and civilians was’ coming in He also took steps to boost the supply. of water by using the pump, which also gave individual control from each delivery. He surveyed the building and exercised supervision over danger to the men. When Superintendent Morrison took over, witness watched the Colombo street frontage He also ordered the high ladder to be used to protect the tall building of Heath’s as a hose delivery; that was done before Mr Ballantyne was rescued. Later he went into Reece’s building and found a small fire had occurred in the women’s rest room, where a w’all had collapsed. He returned to the station at 9.25 p.m. and was back at the fire again at 5 a.m. for “cooling down purposes.” Mr Watson: Do you consider that the electric ladder could, at any time, have been used for rescue purposes? —When the ladder did arrive and there was a danger to the girls in Goodman’s building, every effort would have been made to rescue the girls if they had remained there long enough for the ladder to be manoeuvred into position. In these conditions, that would have taken five or six minutes. If the girls had stayed there, they would have been rescued Subject to the time limitation, the electric ladder could have been used for the rescue of the girls?—The girls did not show any signs of distress until the break-through of the fire. If the necessary time had been permitted the brigade, the ladder could have reached the level of the girls in the millinery workroom? —Yes. There were no physical obstacles to prevent that?—l could not say at the present time. I don’t know now the cables would affect it.

Again, subject to the time limitation, do you think the girls in the credit office could have been rescued by the electric ladder?—l had to make a snap decision, and, looking at the power cable, I don’t think the ladder could have been used.

Whose duty was it to order the electric ladder to be used for rescue pur-

poses?—lf any person had been seen to be m difficulty, the nearest officer would have used his own initiative and got that ladder to work. It is no responsibility of an officer to send for another officer.

What personnel was necessary to drive the ladder round and to man oeuvre it into position?—lt would take an officer, driver, and three men.

Do you consider the ladder an efficient and effective unit for rescue purposes?—No.

Why? On account of its slow and cumbersome manipulation?—lt is only a* water tower for reaching the top of high buildings. It is slow and cumbersome of manipulation for rescue?—Yes.

Have you ever known of a TillingStevens electric ladder used successfully for rescue purposes?—l have no knowledge of them. The ladder has a maximum speed of 20 to 25 miles an hour on the road and would be outdistanced by the fire engines. Ladder Equipment Adequate Do you think the Christchurch Fire Brigade is adequately equipped with ladders for rescue purposes?—We are equipped as any other brigade is. We could do with a ladder tender to carry different sizes of ladders. It would be helpful if we had a wheeled escape, a standard ladder for the London Fire Brigade. You would consider, in the light of Ballantyne’s fire, you have, not adequate ladder equipment in Christchurch for rescue purposes?—The type of veranda was the biggest obstacle we had to overcome. Otherwise, I think we have ladders which could reach Pratt’s building and the electric ladder could have reached Goodman’s building.

Do you realise that implies you had sufficient ladders, except for the difficulty created by the veranda?—Yes. I think so.

He had no suggestions for additional equipment to offer to the commission, said Officer Burrows. Seven members of the brigade were available for rescue purposes in Colombo street had they been called on. That might have been ample personnel for rescue work before the break through of fire. The onus was on the officer on the spot to take the initiative. In a grave emergency, the drivers could be taken away from their machines. Three drivers were included in the number available for rescue purposes.