METROPOLITAN FIRE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 22191, 20 November 1935, Page 15

METROPOLITAN FIRE BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board held its monthly’ meeting yesterday afternoon ; present—Messrs S. B. Macdonald (chairman), J. Wilson, W. Callender, W. Johnstone, A. F. Quelch, J. L. Salmond, and M. Silverstone. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Reviewing the activities of the brigade for October, the superintendent (Mr J. J. Salmon) stated that the inose serious lire during the month was at Messrs Warded Bros., where damage was done to the building and stock totalling £7OO. Had it not been for the automatic alarm in the building registering the call to the station early’ the damage would have been, moi-o excessive. Calls totalling 56 were attended, composed of 12 fires, 21 rubbish and bush fires, 12 chimney fires, and four malicious, one justifiable, two automatic, and four accidental alarms. Of this total the South Dunedin Brigade attended 27, the Roslyn Brigade 12, the Green Island machine 4, and the Mosgiel machine none. The brigade attended a fire at Ashburn Halt, which was situated outside the city area. A total of 12 chimney fires was attended to by the Central Station (two), the South Dunedin Station (seven), and the Roslyn Station (three). Causes of outbreaks were; Sparks (three), a cigarette butt (one), arson (one), short circuit (one), overheating fat (one), wax matches (one), a defective copper (one), waste in contact with a hot pipe (one), and unknown (one), making a total of 12. The new Ford machine was delivered and tested during the month, and its commission had so far reached expectations. A 500 ft rubber-lined liose had been received and tested, and was now ready for use. A young woman had been apprehended and convicted for committing arson. Of the calls received, 21 were to deal with gorse and grass fires. Pressure tests carried out at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Central, South Dunedin, and the Roslyn Stations revealed the following respective pressures7olb and 1201b'; 901 b and 1201 b; 1301 b and 1401 b. The ambulances travelled 988 miles, and transported 120 patients during the month. The report was adopted. FINANCE. The committee reported that accounts amounting to £2,069 16s 7d had been passed for payment.—The report was adopted.