“GOING SOME TIME”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22570, 25 February 1948, Page 6

“GOING SOME TIME”

LATE CALL GIVEN REASON FOR SPREAD RECONNAISSANCE PROBLEM (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 24. Third ofllcer JnmcsThomas Burrows, of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, who was in charge of the early operations r.t Bfdlantyne's Fire, continued his evidence in chief today Witness said that after the rescue of Kcr. Ballnntyne he ordered the use of more- hoses in Cashel street- He also ordered the pumping units to be cut in v. sivc individual control of each hose, Water was directed from the top of the electric ladder to the roof of the building. He directed other brigade activities and remained at the scene until 9.45 p.m. Replying to ?,Ir. G. G. G. Watson, for the- Crown. Burrows said that if the girls had stayed at '.he millinery, windows for a few more minutes the electric ladder could have been used to rescue them. Because of the presence of electric cables lie did not think the laddci could have been brought to hear on the second floor windows to rescue the girls in the credit office. Shortage in Ladder Crew An officer, driver arid three men would have been necessary to manipulate tne ladder, but only an officer ana driver were with it. , Witness saia ti.ul in iris opinion the ciocuue laouei was not mi elective iescue unit, it was supply tt movable i.ijuuui. ioi dnecung water ui to ourn,ng otuicnngs. ..sited oj' ,„r. Wafsui, it he thought llit wnns.mineh tut Brigade iiacl adequate iueeoi laciiuics lor rescue purposes, BtniuV. a seiu the brigade wuu uj \vitn hghlei iaudcrs wnn uoohs anti a tender kji carrying diuereill sizes ul uoucis. He had no suggestions to oner regarding additional equipment. mere were six men and one junior oineer who saouid Have ueen available .or any rescue worn in Congreve a ouikung, Burrows told Mr. v, atson mis snuLild nave been stiiheicnt. m a grave emergency drivers could oe taken irom tneir machines and witness acided tliat. lie was including tniee ai'itCfs m ins ugure oi six men.

in me event oi a cellar lire mere was a lesyonsioiiny to consider the possijmty oi the lire spreading and in view ol tins it was l.ic duty or some- officer ut tiio brigade to survey the adjacent diruamy. marrows agreed tnat suen an investigation would nave disclosed at least tnree factors gravely enhancing die possibility of the lire spreading if it nad oroiten tnrough. “Would Have Ueen Too Late”

An investigation would have revealed factors which would nave indicated tnat ueiivenes snouid have been put into tne ground and nrm lioors of Goodman's ouiiamg to try to surround the lire. However, by the time such a survey was made and deliveries made it would nave been too late because ol the speed witn wmeh the lire was spreading. Witness said that m his opinion there was no duty on the brigade to order tlie evacuation ot people, especially on die upper lioors during the iirst 1U minutes alter arrival. The responsibility during tnat period was on the heads of the lirm. although there was some obligation on the brigade to warn the occupants to get out. Witness said he had no knowledge of any such warning being given by • any oliicer of the brigade, if an officer had made a survey of the building and had considered the position potentially dangerous, ne could have warned the occupants of the position. "To what do you attribute the fact that a cellar lire became a major conflagration after the arrival of the brigade?” asked Mr. Watson. “There were several factors,” said the witness. "The lire had been going some time before the brigade was notified and the firemen could have been taken into the building by a much easier route than the one they were actualy shown.