FIRE WASTE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 10

FIRE WASTE

■LOSSES IM DOMINION

WELLINGTON'S HIGH RATE

ANALYSIS IN FIGURES

The insurance statistics compiled by the Government Statistician from information supplied by insurance) offices during 192S afford illuminating evidence of tbo annual losses suffered in New Zealand as the result of lires affecting buildJngs. "Tho lire-loss problem has occasioned much ■interest, and no little alarm during recent yoais," comments the Statistician (Mr. Malcolm leaser). "In 1924 the amount paid out by way of compensation reached tlio then unprecedented figure of £1,008,7415. This ' represented a substantial increase over '. the total for 1923, but gave way in 1925 to a decrease of £146,769. Since then, however, losses have increased with startling rapidity. In 1926 the amount was £1,129,257, and in 1927 £1,210,661, while in 1928 an increase of over £240,000 raised tho amount paid to the insuring public during that year to the huge figure of £1,454,328. The following tablo gives particulars of fires covered by insurance which occurred in. the Dominion during the five calendar years 11)24-28.• — y \«

GREATER IN NORTH ISLAND. ,The increase in iiro losses has in recent years been much greater in the North Island than in the South. Compared with 1927 the increase, in the North Island in- 1928 amounted to £,190,683, or 22 per cent., as against the South Island's increase of £.50,389, or 17 per cent, the actual loss in 192$ being £1,046,572 and £386,104 for North and South respectively. During tho last five years losses in the N.orth Island hay« increased by £520,----015, or 99 per cent., and in the South Island "by £156,059, or 68 per cent, while for- the Dominion as a whole the increase amounted to £658,047, or 83 per cent. Of tho four principal urban areas in 1928, Auckland suffered most as regards both the number of fires and tho losses paid out. Auckland also had the highest ratio of loss to . cover, Christehurch having tho best record in this respect. The effect of the greater fire-fighting facilities in the cities when compared with rural localities is exemplified by the fact that' whereas the ratio of loss to cover in the principal urban areas averages out at 12.98 per cent., and that for the secondary urban areas at 19.34 per cent,., the ratio for tho remainder of the Dominion is 32.86. LOCAL AVERAGES. The Statistician publishes detailed tables giving the loss per capita according to urban areas and provincial districts for the period 1924-28, and the fire rate per 1000 of population for the same period.' During the period in question the fire loss per head of population for the Dominion increased from 14s Gd in 1924 to £1 0s 5d in 1928, ,-while the average fir the five years works out at 16s Id.' The figures for the North Island have increased from 15s lOd per head to £1 3s lOd per head, whilo the rate in the South Island has risen by 2s 3d only, the 1924 average being 12s sd, and that of 1928 14s--Bd. Of the principal urban areas, Wellington, with £1 14s lOd and £1 0s Id, has the highest rate asjregards both of tho year 1928 and the average for the five years. The comparative figures for the remaining' urban areas are: — Auckland, £1 5s 8d and 16s 6d; Christchurch, 11s 4d and 13s 2d;, and Dunedin, lls 7d and 11s lOd. The fire rate in the Dominion per thousand of population has increased from 2.79 i« 1924 to 3.38 in 1928, while the average for the five years works out' at 3.11. CAUSES ANALYSED. Discussing the causes of fires, the Statistician states that of the 22,799 separate fires during the period 1924-28, 1536 were on account of floating risks such as motor-cars, etc. Of the remainder, the cause was .given in 13,250 cases, leaving 8013, or nearly 38 per cent, of cases, in which tho insurance offices had no knowledge as to the cause of fire."lt should also bo remembered,1" he adds, "that in somo instances, more especially where a total or semitotal loss was sustained, tho actual cause was a matter of conjecture only. These cases, however, are fey in number, as tho vast majority of total losses are included :in ' the total of unknown cruses. , This is borne out by tho fact that, whereas in 62 per cent, of the number of fires the actual cause was stated, the amount,of loss paid out on those fires represents only 39 per cent, of tho total. MAJORITY OF FIRES PREVENTABLE. "From tho results of the investigation it is plainly evident that the majority of .fires are preventable arc the results of carelessness either as to tho immediate cause of tho fire, or as to the contributory cause arising out of faulty construction and fitting-up of buildings. Tho uso of electricity was alone responsiole for 1330 fires, involving a loss of £368,043, during the five years'.covered by the tables. An examination of the figures, however, reveals that the _jnajority of iircs were not due to any inherent hazard as far as electricity itself is concerned, but were . due either to faulty installation or to ' carelessness in the use of^ appliances. Electric irons -alono were " responsible for 659 fires, and in nearly every instance'it was a case of 'power left on.' The average Joss in this type of firo is, however, small. Another cause involving numerous losses of small amounts is naked lights coming in contact with curtains, bed-clothes, etc. A total of 1400 fires during tho period comos under this heading, tho amount of loss totalling £81,894. Sparks and cmtfers. from fireplaces were tho cause of 4570 fires, involving a .-loss: of 6297,288. The element, of carelessness fs well exemplified in this typo of fire. in no less tha~ 971 cases, airing clothes before a fire was the cause of the outbreak, while 2384 fires resulted from embers falling from fireplaces in pri-. vato dwellings. Smoking and tho careless use of matches aro also prolific sources of danger in regard to fires, no fewer than 519 cases being returned as originating from 'smoking in bed,' 430 from 'dropped cigarette-butt,' and 419 from 'lighted match dropped.' ."Tho cause which- would, appear to call for most consideration is, however, that of defective chimneys, fireplaces, etc. During the five years 1657 fires, resulting in an insured loss of £449,824, were stated to be duo to this cause. Of . that number 731, involving £126,250, occurred in urban areas, leaving 926 fires, involving £323,574, for tho remainder at tho Dominion."

. ■ •. Separate Gross Cross Year.' l 'flrcs. , Cover , Loss 1924 ..:... 4,124 4,368,621. 1,008,746 1925 ■ ......'-4,04b 4,728,601- 801,977 1926 ....... 4,628' 6,249,024 1,129,257 1927 '. 5,029 6,555,9S8 l,210,6bl 1928 , 4,972 7,661,893 1,451,328 : The buildings-affected totalled 4405 in.,1924, 4340 in 1925, 4014 in 1926, 5366 m> 1927. and 5275 in 1928.