MASTERTON FIRE ALARM

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 296, 13 September 1927, Page 6

MASTERTON FIRE ALARM

EXPERIMENTS WITH SIREN

Masterton, September 12.

Owing to complaints made by members of the Mastertou Eire Brigade that they have difficulty on occasions in hearing the bell installed at the station, tlie Fire Board has been carrying out tests with a siren as a more satisfactory method. So far, however, the board is not satisfied with the trial, and intends going further in the matter. The superintendent of the brigade (Mr. A. E. Freeman) stated this morning that the siren which had been under test was of the dome type, and by the results attained the board did not feel disposed to spending about £75, which would be the cost of installing the siren. However, an endeavour was being made at the present time to obtain from Sydney a siren of the megaphone type, which it was thought might give better results. When this was secured, further trials would be carried out and the efficacy of the new alarm tested with that of the present bell. Mr. Freeman remarked that with a volunteer brigade, such as obtained in Masterton, considerable difficulty was experienced in transmitting to members of the brigade the immediate, alarm necessary in case of fire. This could be obviated by installing private wires to the residences of the men, but where the latter were situated in houses other than those which were their own property, a general method of alarm was necessary. As it was, four permanent men were available in the day time and two at night, and these proceeded to the outbreak of fire and established one lead of hose, after which the other firemen followed.