FIRES IN THE CITY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 140, 13 June 1912, Page 2

FIRES IN THE CITY

♦ AN INCREASE LAST YEAR IN WELLINGTON. The number of calls to fires, or supposed fires, in Wellington during the year ending 31st March last was 278. A comparison of the causes for the two years is given in the annual report of the Superintendent of the City Fire ! Department, as under :—: — 1911. 1912. Actual Srea 156. 143 Rubbish and gorse fires 23 37 Chimney fires 17 ,16 False, alarms 44 82 Totals .- 240 278 In June last the Merryweather motor hose-wagon, 55 h.p and 55ft sliding carriage escape, was delivered and placed in commission at the central station. At present there are only two horses kept at the central station for drawing the ladder carriage or steam fire engines to fires. On arrival of the motor hose-wagon on order, the superintendent intends to recommend that all the horses (four) be disposed of. It is six years since the first motor appliance was purchased. Since then three machines have been added and one placed in order. Since its introduction into this department, motor apparatus has fully proved its superiority over horses. v During the year five men were added to the permanent staff. The receipts of the brigade for the year amounted to £570, and the expenditure to £7165. The area under protection is 9500 acres.The discipline and conduct,, of the brip;ade is satisfactory. Tho members i of the brigade have carried out the duties allotted to them in a most cheerful manner. PERSONNEL AND PLANT. Tho present strength of the brigada is — Superintendent, deputy-superintend- [ cut, third officer, three station officers, I coachman, three senior firemen, 22 first, •second, and third-class firemen, 17 auxiliary firemen,- 40 volunteer firemen, 30 officers and members Volunteer Fire Police Corps. Included, in the plant are four petrol motors, a Shand-Mason steam fire engine, a telescope ladder, four hand hosereels, cix hand hose-carts, 16,895 ft of hose, four stations, six hose-reel stations, 17 street fire-alarm circuits, 88 street fire-alarm call points, and a Shand-Ma-son steam fire engine, capacity 1000 gallons, the property of the Harbour Board, stationed at the central station, and available for city fireß. CAUSES OF FIRESi The causes of fires during th& year are given as under :—: — Matches thrown down 27 ' Attributable to candles ... 13 Auing clothes 5 Ignition of benzine vapour ... b Sparks from fire ... " ... ' ... 7 Upsetting of kerosene lamp ... 3 Defective flue „ 3 Defective fireplace 3 Explosion of kerosene lamp ... 2 Boiling over of fat 2 Children playing with matchea... 2 Defective copper flue ... ... 2 Overheating (various) ... ... 8 Spontaneous combustion ... 2 Smoking in bed 2 Hot ashes 2 Gas ring ... ' ,. t 2 Ignition of kinematcgfaph film... 2 unknown 37