IME SPENT IN ALLEYWAY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25428, 26 February 1948, Page 8

IME SPENT IN ALLEYWAY

Is it correct that altogether you I were in the alleyway from the time you first arrived on the scene till the break-through of flame?—That would , be right. I would say five or six I minutes at a guess. The breakthrough was before 4. You were in from 3.47 J to about 3.58. Did you spend all the time in searching for the entrance to the cellar? —The time I spent was spent searching for .the entrance. There was the question of preparing the delivery, going in first, going back for a mask and re-entering; and there is no definite time as to when the breakthrough occurred. The chairman: When you were in the doorway did you hear anything of crackling?—l did not. If I had seen anything in the way of fire, I would have operied up the delivery. Officer Stevenson told Mr Watson that to his knowledge only he and the branchman were up the alley. He had a recollection that he cannoned into someone else as he crawled out; he assumed it was the assistant branchman. Other firemen could have bcien in the alley closer towards the street. To tell the branchman he was leaving

the alley, he shook him sharply by the tunic and yelled “Come out.” He did not know what Officer Burrows was doing. Job to Find Entrance Mr Watson: Do you think you were justified in spending 10 minutes in the alley in an abortive attempt to find the entrance to the cellar?—As officer in charge of the squad, I do. It was my job to find it. Do you consider you should have spent less time on that and tried to find another entrance? —I was not conscious of the time. I was making a search, and working under those conditions, time can slip by very quickly. You are concentrating on what you are doing and you are not conscious of time. I could at any time have been withdrawn from the right-of-way if it was felt it was not useful for me to be there. Were you waiting for someone to withdraw you?—No. Do you say you were not conscious it was 10 minutes —It was not as long as that to me. Do you consider you were paying due regard to the importance of the principle of prompt action by the brigade on arrival if a fire is to be controlled in remaining that time in the right-of-way without doing anything effective?—To me, it was not ineffective. It had been indicated to me that the cellar entrance was there, and it was the only one I knew of. What effective steps did you take? — In searching for the entrance to the cellar. . » Did you at any time in that 10 min- , utes realise the possible risk of a major

1 catastrophe if that fire was not dis-1 covered or dealt with promptly?—No. It did not occur to me. Reasons for Withdrawal But you had felt some degree of smoke exhaustion. Would you still have remained longer in the alley?—l would probably have carried on my search into 1 the ground floor through the opening in the wall. If you had not been constrained to come out. you would have remained a considerable time longer in the alley? —Not in the alley, in the building. What would you have done if you had stayed in the opening?—l would not have stayed in the opening. I would have searched for the entrance to the cellar to extinguish the fire. Is the commission to take it that your only reason for withdrawing from the entrance was your feeling of exhaustion?—Mainly that, and the need to try to get fresh bearings. Would not your exhaustion be a mosb important thing to report to the officer who interviewed you as to your

withdrawal from the entrance?—lt would.be mentioned, probably, at the time. Did you justify your withdrawal by saying you were too exhausted to stay in the opening?—He was not concerned on that score. I cannot recollect whether I told him. Do you realise that if what you say is correct there is a very heavy burden on you to explain, when making that statement, why you withdrew without taking action? —I was not questioned on that aspect of withdrawal. All he wanted to know was what my actions had been. . You did not volunteer it?—l think I would have told him the reason if he had particularly inquired. I had no reason to withhold it. Was there a life-line attached to the branchman in the first place?—l understood there was one. I would expect one. It is part of the duty, in accordance with ordinary practice. When he saw the burst of flames, it was from the first floor of Goodman s buildings northwards, said Officer Stevenson. That was his impression. The face of the building was in dense smoke. He appreciated that a major fire had developed and his one concern was to get as many deliveries as he .could into the building. He looked round and no fireman was disengaged. Two deliveries were being used. During his absence, No. 3 man (Fireman. Campbell) could have been handling the life-line attached to the branchman (Fireman J. Thompson), No. 4 (Fire- , man J. Brietmeyer) should be stand- ; ing by a standpipe to control tne water. The driver (Fireman Dobson) • should have been standing by the i machine. When he came out of the right-of-way the firemen were not ■ there. They had taken over other • duties.