Firms To Receive Fire Drill Folder Soon

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30212, 17 August 1963, Page 15

Firms To Receive Fire Drill Folder Soon

A folder giving hints on evacuation drill and fire protection, published by the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board, will be distributed to Arms in the board’s area shortly, said the Chief Fire Officer (Mr L. R. Osmond) at the board's meeting last evening. He said that brigade members would distribute the folder, and inspections of business premises would be carried out at the same time.

The folder, with a bright red photograph of a fire engine on front, gives the procedure for telephoning the fire brigade for fire calls and tor inquiries. The folder sets out the evacuation procedure in the event of fire, recommends that a search warden ( and deputy* and control officer (and deputy* should be appointed in big buildings and for firms with large staffs It is also recommended that a control point be established.

Under the heading of “Fire Protection,” the folder says that firms are on the way

to good fire protetcion if they can give an affirmative answer to the following questions:—

Can your customers and employees get out as easily as they got in? Are all entrances and fire exits unobstructed? Are they clearly marked and lighted? Are emergency stairs and fire escapes in good repair? Are all vertical openings, stairways. lift shafts and so on, enclosed? Are all fire doors unobstructed and not wedged open? Are weights, fusible links, and other automatic closing equipment for fire doors in good condition? Are your store aisles unobstructed? Do you hold periodic fire drills for your employees, and do they know what to do in a fire emergency?

The folder points out that basements of buildings constitute the most vulnerable fire points, and should be cleared of all rubbish, and furnaces should have substantial partitions from the rest of the basements.

The folder says that the Christchurch City By-law No 44 (buildings). 1962, requires that where a fire alarm installation is not connected with any fire brigade, there shall be maintained at the device by which an alarm of fire is given a conspicuous notice reading: “After giving fire alarm notify the fire brigade at once.”