CRAWLED NINETY FEET

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

CRAWLED NINETY FEET

To Mr A. C. Perry (for three unions): He crawled at least 70 feet to the end of the alley and was practically blind when he dropped to his hands and knees. He also crawled back to the entrance, making the total distance 90 feet at least. It would take considerable time. It was only recently he knew he was at the top of the stairs. There was nothing to indicate where the stairs were. He would have been better off if Mr Ballantyne or the employee had given him more information. The important point in his statement was that he had not found the cellar entrance. Trained firemen did not release water indiscriminately and would not cause undue damage to property, said witness to Mr Perry, who referred to Mr Thomas’s question as to why the hose was not turned on.

“It is no use you trying to make out it was not important, because it was an important omission,” said the chairman, .to Mr Perry. To Mr Perry: When on house-keep-ing inspections, he did not come across many buildings with internal fire alarm systems. He did not know of any building as large as Ballantyne’s in Christchurch without a fire alarm system. He had heard of severe criticism of the brigade for excessive use of water.

To Mr J. D. Hutchison (for the Fire Board): The hose was a sure way for a fireman finding his way back out of a smoke-logged building. The life-line and the Roberts respirators went together. He always allowed the branchman to use the Roberts, while he used the mask. The most experienced fireman was usually the branchman. He first saw the electric ladder at the corner of Cashel and Colombo streets. Mr E. A. Lee (for the City Council): Do you have an “inquest” after a fire? —Only amofig the crew. Any official inquiries into the strategy employed in fighting a big fire?— No. If a mistake was made, you would be spoken to by a senior officer. In the residential areas, the brigade was empowered to cut the 230-volt power lines and carried such equipment, said Officer Stevenson. If the lines were heavy, he would endeavour to locate an officer of the M.E.D. and have them cut.

Did the house-keeping scheme include evacuation of staff? —No. But if we were asked for advice on evacuation, we would give instruction. But you dealt with only one man at Ballantyne’s?—Yes. I presumed he would tell the heads of the firm and that the part of the information which concerned the staff would be passed on to them. Effectiveness of Extinguishers Do you agree extinguishers are effective in fighting a fire in its incipient stages?—Y6s. The effective range of a good-conditioned extinguisher is 20 to 25 feet. It would be a fairly good jet. In a confined arqa of smoulder could not the extinguishers have been directed effectively?—Yes, and possibly extinguish it. Can you suggest how Ballantyne’s employees could have effectively used those extinguishers when they found the cellar half filled with smoke?—lf it was possible for them to get into the cellar and within reasonable distance of where it was suspected the seat of the fire was, then the fire extinguishers could have been used, and used to the limit of their availability, provided smoke conditions were not too bad to stop them staying there. Questions on Statement “When you arrived did you think it was likely to be a major fire?” asked Mr R. Tywneham (for the fire underwriters). “I did not think it was anything but an incipient fire.” replied Officer Stevenson. “I did not know the extent of it, but I took the immediate precautions of ordering a delivery and then proceeded to try to find the fire. It did not strike me as anything out of the ordinary at that time. To me, it did not appear to be a major fire until the break-out occurred.” “Do you realise the truth or untruth of your statements can be ascertained by reference to Mr Campbell,” asked Mr Twyneham. Witness: Yes. “Would you be willing to stand or

fall by what Mr Campbell says?” asked Mr Twyneham. Mr Watson: I submit that that is not a proper question. . “It is not,” ruled the chairman. “You must not ask that question.’ Mr W. H. Mathison (for the Fire Brigades’ Employees’ Union): When you made the statement to Mr Campbell were you told it was to assist the Crown? , , , _ The chairman: Does that make any difference? . • “Yes,” replied Mr Mathison. The witness was told the details did not matter. If the Crown wanted the statement the details did matter. Mr Watson: We did want them. Tne Fire Board’s representative agreed to get the statement. The Crown has had no access to the witness. Officer Stevenson, who said he nad not been asked by the Crown to make a statement, told Mr Mathison that the man who drove the van back to the station for hoses was a Mr Rhodes, but he did not know the man was an E.F.S. member. . . If 12 extinguishers were used in me cellar, only between 24 and 36 gallons ,of water would have gone into the end of the cellar, said Officer Stevenson to Mr Watson, who commented that water through a one-inch nozzle would have been more effective. “Can you, as an experienced fireman, explain that what happened to be an incipient fire became. 10 minutes later, a conflagration?” asked Mr Watson. “The only suggestion I can offer >s that some inflammable gases had bee generated and were dispersed througn the building and, for some reason not known to myself, were suddenly ig nited,” replied Officer Stevenson, did hear reference to napthalene stored in the basement, and I think tnaj under hot conditions, is a dangerou substance. But I think these matters can better be left to the experts. Mr Watson: Do you know that tne napthalene was a white powder wr killing moths and was in tins V'nic were salvaged intact and auctioned. I did not know that. Given permission by the chairrna to make a statement as he finished his evidence. Officer Stevenson wished to pay a tribute to the• volun teers who assisted him. He P ers °”a u appreciated their assistance very mucn. The chairman: I am glad to hear tha