Fire Evacuation

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 10

Fire Evacuation

Sir, —I was very surprised when, in a large department store in Christchurch on Thursday, I came downstairs (in the company of a senior citizen) to find all the lights of the store out, a strong smell of burning, and firemen all through the shop. The staff were gathered out on the pavements, clutching their money tills, which were evidently more important than any customers, who were totally ignorant of any disturbance. Surely, after one terrible fire, there should be

some store-wide warning before the engines are called.— Yours, etc., SIZZLING. July 12, 1965. [The Chief Fire Officer of the Christchurch Fire Board (Mr L. R. Osmond) comments: “This store is equipped with (a) an automatic fire alarm system and (b) an internal warning system which operates as an extension of the alarm system, or also as a manually-operated warning. In this particular instance, the warning sirens failed to operate owing to a mechanical defect. This was explained in the newspaper report by the management of the firm concerned. This firm has an efficient evacuation scheme, and carries out regular tests."]