FIRE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 10

FIRE BOARD

METROPOLITAN AREA CONTROL The Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board held its monthly meeting, followed by the annual meeting, last night. The chairman, Mr W. W. Callender, presided, and others present were Mr M. Connelly, M.L.C., and Messrs H. S. Leith, 0 J. Hay ward, W. P. Hartstonge, E. H. Ferguson, John Wilson, and J. W. Norrie. The Superintendent, in his report, stated that vehicles of,, the City Fire Brigade had covered 871 miles during the month in responding to a total of 67 calls in the city. The brigade was now at full strength. An anxious period had commenced for the brigade on March 20, when the water shortage had become acute. It had been necessary to employ brigade pumps for all fire operations, which, fortunately, had been few. In the months of February and March,_ no fewer than 20 grass fires on railway 'embankments in the Caversham and Kensington areas had been extinguished. In addition, nine fires had occurred on railway bridges in these districts from April 1 of last year to March 31 of this year. The burning of soft coal in railway engines was undoubtedly the cause of thp maiority of these fires. At the annual meeting, Mr Ferguson was elected chairman for the ensuing year. The following Station Committee was appointed:—Mrssrs Ferguson. Hnvward. Norrie, and Connelly.