STRANGER AT FIRES A VERY KEEN MAN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 14

STRANGER AT FIRES A VERY KEEN MAN

The mystery of the "extra" | fireman who appeared at two fires in Christchurch this week while the local firemen were busy putting them out has been solved. The uninvited extra fireman is a 19-year-old member of the Upper Hutt Volunteer Fire Brigade—and a very keen man. On holiday in Christchurch, and having read reports that the city brigade was short staffed, he brought his uniform with him.

The man put in an appearance at a grass fire in the Middleton railway yards on Tuesday and was present again, in uniform less helmet, at a fire in the premises of the International Harvester Company of New Zealand in Blenheim road on Wednesday night. Yesterday morning, after reading a report in ‘The Press” about the strange fireman. the young man called at tile Christchurch Central Police Station and explained the circumstances. He was advised to talk the matter over with the fire brigade, and called to see the Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Mr C. H. Robinson). The Chief Fire Officer (Mr L. R. Osmond) said that the young fireman’s keenness was understandable and commendable, but that there were certain difficulties in the way of his assisting the Christchurch Fire Brigade when not on the brigade’s strength. He would have no

cover under the Workers’ Compensation Act, for one thing. “His offers of assistance on future occasions will regretfully have to be declined,” Mr Osmond said.