JOHN BURNS’ FIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1942, Page 4

JOHN BURNS’ FIRE

INQUIRY COMMISSION’S REPORT.

WELLINGTON, February 18. The report of the Commission of Inquiry, Mr Hunt, S.M., into the fire at John Burns’ premises at Auckland, in August last, says that the cause was quite clear. The evidence showed that an unregistered wireman caused, a short circuit while working on,the switchboard. Had the switchboard been in order, nothing would have happened other than a blown fuse, but the Commission found that me board was not in order. The Commission expressed the opinion that the Fire Brigade did everything necessary to combat me fire, and did its work well, and that the Brigade was properly organised, equipped, and trained, and that the water-supply was adequate. • The report expresses the opinion that closer supervision and control must be exercised over the location of electrical equipment and its installation, and attention is drawn to the failure of the Power Board to make inspections of installations as required by law, at intervals of not less than five years. A number of recommendations in general, with regard to fires, includes, besides provision for easy escape, that escape drills should be held at all factories and other buildings where large numbers of people are employed. The Commission also recommends that, in cities, the brigades should send two machines and a ladder to all calls in the highei' fire risk area, and not change the staff in tne watch-room until all the necessary orders have been given in respect to the particular fire to which the Brigade is called. With regard to the report, Mr Parry said to-day that a lull copy had been sent to Government Departments and the various bodies concerned in one or more sections of the report.