FIRE RISK SEEN AT BURWOOD

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 16

FIRE RISK SEEN AT BURWOOD

CONCERN EXPRESSED FOR HOSPITAL

“The board should be made aware of the risk it is taking in accepting the Health Department’s dictum, and sticking to it when the fire authorities say, ‘No,’ ” said Mr J. J. Brownlee when the North Canterbury Hospital Board was discussing, at its meeting yesterday, a recent fire near the Burwood Hospital, and the proposed installation of a sprinkler system in the hospital. The finance committee had reported that at one stage the fire near the hospital had appeared likely to threaten the hospital, and make necessary the evacuation of patients. The committee had drawn the attention of the Direc-tor-General of Health (Dr. J. Caimey) to the position, because the Burwood Hospital did not conform to the Means of Egress Code. Mr Brownlee said that, if the wind had changed, the whole hospital would have been evacuated, and they were very lucky not to be “in the cactus.” The building committee some time ago had resolved that, as the Health/Department had said the sprinkler system was adequate, it would ignore the statements made by the Waimairi County Council and the fire authorities. Mr T. M. Ayers asked whether they were still awaiting authority to go ahead with the swimming bath at Burwood, which would serve a dual purpose. The secretary (Mr A. Prentice) said that question was wrapped up with Burwood development, and he was not very hopeful at the moment. Mrs T. Green said that, when there was a fire at the Lincoln Hospital recently, the staff of Canterbury Agricultural College had made a fine save. Had it not been for their efforts, she said, there would be no Lincoln Hospital now. The board decided to write to the college expressing appreciation of the staff’s acticn.