FIRES IN AUCKLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1937, Page 14

FIRES IN AUCKLAND

THE YEAR’S CALLS.' [pep, press association.] AUCKLAND, December 29. Ha (Lit not been for two major outbreaks, which caused considerable damage to city factories in the last quarter, rhe fire loss in Auckland for 1937 up to to-night would probably have been the lowest for some years. From January 1 until October 31, the loss was only £10,113. but on account of the destruction of the motor body building works of Cavanagh and Company. Ltd., on November 24, and of the furniture factory of the Farmers’ Trading Company on December 20, this amount may be doubled when the damage is fully assessed.

Up to 10 o’clock to-night the Metropolitan Fire Brigade had answered 839 calls, compared with 665 last year, and 814 in 1935. Of these 276 related to property, 214 were due to outbreaks in grass or rubbish, and 76 resulted from chimneys catching fire. Electrical faults caused 22 calls, justifiable false alarms 152, and malicious false alarms 94.

“With the bulk of the outbreaks preventable, the causes of fires are constant repetition,” said the superintendent of the brigade. Mr. W. L. Wilson, commenting on the figures. “Carelessness and neglect are the two prime reasons: but the brigade has been fortunate in receiving early calls io most of.the outbreaks, with the result that damage has been very limited."

Statistics compiled reveal that 90 per cent. 'of the calls come by telephone and the street fire alarms.