FIGHTING GRASS FIRES

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 100, 21 December 1943, Page 2

FIGHTING GRASS FIRES

ELLESMERE COUNTY ORGANISATION

VALUE OF COUNCIL'S FIREBREAKS EMPHASISED

What the chairman subsequently described as a very good and useful meeting of wardens and sub-war-dens in • the EUesmere County was held at Leeston last night. There w.as a large attendance, all the areas affected by the danger ,of grass fires being represented. The chief warden, Mr A. Anderson, presided.

In• opening the meeting he explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the plans for fire-prevention which were lormeci last year, to revise ih3 instructions and duties of wardens and sub-war-dens, and, to bring the organisation up-to-date and ready to meet any emergency during the dry season.

Mr E. A. Cponey, chairman of thej North Canterbury Rural Fire Prevention Committee was present and addressed the meeting on the four main factors of ,a fire-fighting ser-vice-—prevention, detection, notification "and suppression. He emphasised that there were two main principles to be observed —co-operation in tne community and efficient means of putting the fire-fighting organisation into operation when the need arose. Dealing with prevention, he said tTiat the general committee had to some expense in publicity aimed at making the community fire-mind-ed, by means of road signs, notices in public places," talks to children, and1 over the air. Prompt detection of fires was absolutely essential and this depended on every member of the community notifying their local telephone exchange and fire warden, and giving as explicit information as possible. When the postmaster is notified it is the duty of that officer to obtain as accurate information as to the locality and nature of the fire as possible, before notifying the warden, if the size of the fire warranted it, sending ,out the general alarm. This call over the telephone is seven short and one long ring and every telephone user in the fire area should take particular note of this code and what it meant. The officials ,of the Post Office had a most important job in the fire-prevention service, and upon their efforts depended the whole of the success ,of the scheme.

The wardens, too, explained Mr Cooney, liad in their own districts, a most important part to play. It was their duty to see that their own areas were thoroughly .organised and that each man knew what he was expected to do when the call came. The necessity of right and accurate information was emphasised. If any farmer desired, to burn off stubble or deal with gorse or other rubbish by burning, he was urged to first of .all consult with the fire warden iof his area and if he decided, to go ,o.n with the work, to notify first of all, the nearest post office and the warden of what he intended to do and that the fire would, be under control. Mr Cooney emphasised that information regarding a reported fire should ba given promptly and as accurate as possible s,o far as locality and nature, whether a small -or a major one. The duties of sub-warden were similar to those of the warden and he was to assist his warden in every w,ay possible. Usually, when an alarm was given, the first warden to arrive would take charge of operations.

Mr Caoney said that the central committee fully appreciated the work which the Ellesmere County Council was d,oing in ploughing lirebreaks and that it had spent £100 on the work, and, had expended it wisely arid well. There were breaks now from Bankside to Southbridge, which gave the fire-fighting organisation a better chance of dealing with fires in that area. The lead of Ellesmere was being followed by other local bodies in the neighbourhood, by Springs, Selwyn and Malvern especially.

Speaking of the .organisation of the suppression force, which was the duty of the warden in each area, Mr Cooney said that it was of great value to .arrange for a farmer to have his tractor and plough available in case of a call; also for another to have a truck with wet sacks an# other fire-fighting equipment handy. The attention which the council had, given to the fire-breaks made them safe, and landowners adjoining could co-operate by ploughing subsidiary breaks in their properties!- He pointed out that the secret of efficient fire-fighting was organisation, of knowing what was wantsd and, what to do when they got to a fire.-

Replying to a question, Mr Cooney agreed that there might be a difficulty over those who should take charge and whether the others would take instructions from them, but as most had been members of the Home Guard, the discipline learnt there would be of great value. The speaker pointed out that the Railway Department was ready to co-operate in every way it could, both in, preventing firss and in assisting the fire-fighting force.

Mr Cooney added that if a warden intended to be away from home or was not available, he should notify his local postmaster of the