ARMY FIRE UNIT IN TAIPING CAMP

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 23

ARMY FIRE UNIT IN TAIPING CAMP

[Army Information Service]

TAIPING. New Zealand Army firemen keep a 24-hour watch on the Commonwealth military camps and the district military hospital in Taipine. In the last year their vigilance has saved from destruction the British Army Children’s School, catering for 240-odd soldiers’ children, and extinguished several nastyjungle fires and break-outs in buildings and motorvehicles. The only volunteer fire brigade in Malaya—the rest are permanent brigades—it is organised by a full-time firemaster. Corporal W. D. Hall, of Papakura, who also acts as a fire risk inspector. A qualified fireman. Corporal Hall organises a 12-man brigade which includes two other former firemen. Private Wright, of Hamilton, who belonged to the regular brigade there, and Lance-Corporal P. O’Meara, of Ngaruawahia. a former member of the Waikato Camp Volunteer Fire Brigade. The unit has its own fire truck and trailer pump. Members of the brigade are drawn from single men living in the Taiping camp. In unexpected trial alarms the brigade has turned out at complete strength within 30 seconds in the day and 90 seconds at night. The unit trains twice a week for an hour and also visits other fire stations in Malaya to learn more about the subject. With trips to Penang. Taiping, Ipoh, the volunteers have seen quite a bit of North Malaya through their interest.

By regulations the Taiping Civil Fire Brigade is called to all fires but frequently the New Zealand camp unit has extinguished the blaze before the arrival of the Taiping force which has to travel nearly two miles to the camp.