FIRE PROTECTION IN JOHNSONVILLE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 109, 1 February 1941, Page 12

FIRE PROTECTION IN JOHNSONVILLE

Request To Wellington Board The Wellington Fire Board, at its monthly meeting yesterday, received a letter from the Johnsonville Town Board, asking whether the board would consider linking the Johnsonville Town district with the Khandallah fire brigade station by means of an alarm system. An endeavour was to be made to form a volunteer fire brigade .in Johnsonville, and a .still greater measure of fire protection would be afforded if further facilities were to be available from the Fire Board’s service. The Town Board would be pleased to learn the board’s terms for the service. When the letter came before the board, the chairman, Mr. S. S. Dean, said it was only a matter of time when Johnsonville would become amalgamated with Wellington City. He understood that negotiations in this direction were going on between the Town Board and the Wellington City Council. When the change took place, the question of fire protection would naturally follow. Mr. M. F. Luckie said that this, if it eventuated, would take time, aud in the" meantime the board should assist Johnsonville in every way it possibly could. Superintendent C. A. Woolley said that Johnsonville was adequately supplied with water. A trial run had been made from the Khandallah fire station recently, and the heart of Johnsonville had been reached in three minutes. In fact. Johnsonville could be served much more expeditiously than some of the outlying portions in the board’s area. If was decided to hold a conference with the Johnsonville Town Board on the subject, and to request Superintendent Woolley Io submit a report. It was pointed out that with the erection of large blocks of State houses the lire protection position in Johnsonville was becoming urgent. False Alarms. The superintendent reported that during the month of December the brigade had received Ito calls 58 of which were to actual fires, and 52 to false alarms. Mr. Luckie said that lines of £5 ap patently were no deterrent to false ahi rms. It was decided to make representations to the magistrates reminding them that they have authority Io impose a fine of £5O or one month’s imprisonment upon anyone giving a malicious false tire alarm. It was decided to ask the Welling-' ton Harbour Board if it was prepared to grant tlie use of its trailer pump for training under tlie Emergency Precautions scheme.