INVESTIGATION INTO CITY FIRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22569, 24 February 1948, Page 6

INVESTIGATION INTO CITY FIRE

ACCESS CUT OFF

SEAT OF BLAZE GRAVITY NOT REALISED METHOD OF ATTACK (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCI-I, Feb. 24. Continuing his evidence, Third Officer Burrows said he went with Ballantyne along Colombo street to the Cashel street entrance. He did not notice the fire escape or the separation of Pratt’s and Goodman’s building. Mr. G- G. G. Watson, for the Crown: Was it not necessary to look at the adjacent buildings and openings? Witness: That is correct, but ! was dealing with an ordinary cellar lire. A cellar lire is a slow burning fire, the air being static, and it gives sufficient time to make an inspection as to the best method of extinguishing the fire. 1 went down Colombo street under the verandah and did not see the opening or the fire escape. No Trace of Smoke He was shown a way through the building to the goods lift shaft., witness continued. At no stage did he see or smell smoke. He looked down the shaft and saw no smoke. He would say that definitely in spite of what Roger Ballantyne said. Witness said he did not attempt to go down altboii' h he had been taken there as a means of access because there was no sign of smoke, and he thought the actual seat of the fire was well away from the shaft. He then decided to go

back to the scene of the cellar fire. Witness said he left the shop at a “.jog trot.” He noticed no smoke in the shop. On reaching Congreve’s building ho looked up and the smoke had markedly increased. Mr. Watson: Did you appreciate then that you might be on the verge of a major catastrophe? Witness: No. Witness added that he gave orders to prepare a delivery with a large nozzle and place it through a window. Mr- Watson: Did you feel satisfied that by that delivery you would be able to control the cellar fire? Witness: No, it was to cool down the atmosphere and gas below the combustion stage in the floor area. “Up to that point had anyone investigated the first floor as to the condition of the heat, smoke, etc? —No. Heat Above Cellar ‘ Had anybody from the brigade investigated ihe conditions of heat on the ground floor immediately above the cellar?—No. “I am advised by experts that the proper technique in a case such as this is not only to feel the heat but to hack a hole through the floor and put a delivery through at that part?—Thai is correct. “Was at any time, from beginning to end. any attempt made by anybody in the brigade to hack a hole in the floor of Congreve’s building to put a delivery into Congreve’s cellar? —No. “Why was that not done?—lt was my intention to knock in a shop window front and hack a hole through the floor. That was my next attack. “Is it not one of the first duties of the officer in charge on arrival at a fire to investigate the building in close proximity to the scat of fires?—That is correct. ‘ In the discharge of that duty did it not occur to voti to go into the doorway of Goodman's building to see if you could reach Congreve’s ground floor? — T was taken past there, and I judged there was no entrance to Congreve’s building “But you knew BMlantyne’s was used as one big shop?—No. “If you had thought it necessary to apply a delivery to the first floor to cool down, was there not a greater necessity to apply water on the ground floor near the seat of the fire?—Yes. but we could not get in thereCould Have Broken Window “Would there have been any difficulty in putting a cooling down delivery through a window on the ground coot'?—We eo'fid have broken a window and put it through there. “You have not hesitated to break a window norm all y?— No. “Knowing that a fire was in the basement, and Hint the time had arrived when vou should rover it. did you after ordering that delivery to he nut in make any inspection or investigation of adjoining areas to see whether (here wore oneninss or exposures through which the fire could spread?— No. “Js it not one of the primary duties? —Yes. “If you did not do it. what was your reason?—As 1 put a delivery through the window I again investigated this right-of-way to see what progress Officer Stevenson had made with the object of making a line of attack through the ground floor of Congreve's building. “Is it fair to sav that you assumed that you did not expect it. to progress beyond a cellar fire?—Not up to that stage. “What were Officer Stevenson and file Fireman doing in the alley when vou went in?—l discovered they had not been siireo«cful in finding the entrance to Ihe cellar.”