NEED FOR FIRE ALARMS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25638, 29 October 1948, Page 8

NEED FOR FIRE ALARMS

“DELAYED CALLS TO BRIGADE ” From Our Own Reporter % TIMARU, October 28. Han an automatic fire alarm system been installed in business premises which were burnt out at Timaru on August 2. damage might have been limited to £2O, said the chairman (Mr W. H. Hall) at a meeting of the Timaru Fire Board this morning, when it was reported that damage suffered by occupants of the building, John Chambers and Son, was estimated at more than £ll,OOO. Cases where serious fires developed because of delayed calls to the brigade, the equipment of which was lying immobile at this critical period, emphasised the need for adequate alarm systems, said the superintendent (Mr E. W. McCann). The secretary (Mr H. H. Fraser) said that he had called on the headquarters of two firms with branches in Timaru advocating installation of alarms. “They thought we were trying to sell them something,” said Mr Fraser, though the board’s only desire was to secure speedy notification of fires.

Another large business firm in Timaru was said to be “shilly shallying” about installing an alarm system. It was now awaiting the outcome of recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Ballantyne’s fire, which, said Mr Hall, would probably require the firm to install an alarm system in the long run.