ANNUAL FIRE LOSSES

Evening Star, Issue 23560, 26 April 1940, Page 6

ANNUAL FIRE LOSSES

OVER HALF A MILLION THE CAUSES DETAILED [Special to the * Stab.’] WELLINGTON, April 26. For the year 1938, in respect to which the full Dominion figures have become available, New Zealand’s fire losses in respect to insured property _ totalled £596,267. This was £133,250 in excess of the previous year’s losses, though the number of fires, 5,956, was slightly fewer. The number of fires has been steadily rising since 1933, though fire losses, except for the year 1935, have been dropping. They came ddwn to 5.60 per cent, of the insured cover in 1937, but the latest analysis shows the proportion to be 8.51 per cent. . : No special significance is attached to the increased fire loss, which seemed to be distributed throughout the Dominion, the increases in Auckland being £27,123; Wellington, £3.332; Christchurch. £76,668; and Dunedin £9,407. What caused a rise in the loss ratio was the number of fires in which blocks of buildings were involved. There were in 1938 15 of these fires, with an average loss of £14,000, compared with an average of seven fires and! £9,000 loss in the preceding four years. Though many fires destroy evidence of their origin, the official return is able to include suggestions as to the reasons for most of them, the conclusion being published that the majority of fires are preventable, and that they are due to carelessness. Defective chimneys, fireplaces, etc., were stated to be responsible for 1,838 fires, resulting in an insured loss of £334.561 ; smoking and misuse of matches 3,061 fires and £138,922 dosses; use and misuse of highly inflammable spirits and material, 704 fires and £59,047 losses; while the-use of electricity was the cause given in 3.987 fires, with consequent losses of £182,587. The general belief that the -week-end is the dangerous time for fires is supported by the official/ analysis of daily incidence. From Saturday to Monday is the busy time for fire brigades. “ The number of fires on Mondays,” states the report, “ is evidently due to the nnpularity of that day ns washing day.” Week-end migration of the population from urban areas is noted as the probable reason for a fall in the fire rate which, however, is offset by the relatively large number of fires which occur on Sundays in extra-urban districts.