Fire Protection In Dominion Under Criticism

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22915, 6 April 1949, Page 4

Fire Protection In Dominion Under Criticism

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. April 5. “It is to our shame that we must admit that 99 per cent, of the buildings in the country are so constructed that under favourable conditions they could be burnt to the ground by one nit-wit with a cigarette.”

An inspecting officer, Mr. A. W. Crook. M.8.E., Auckland, said this today when the annual conference of the Institution of Fire Engineers was resumed in Auckland-

Referring to the recommendations of the Royal Commission after its inquiry into the Christchurch fire disaster. Mr. Crook said there was little evidence of them being implemented. People concerned with fire protection were uneasy about the prospects of another major tragedy. “No thinking person will deny that at present the fire protection of this Dominion is in a sorry plight,” he said. “Public complacency, allied with migratory fire-protection laws and inadequate fire defences, both public and private, combine to create a situation shameful to the population which proudly claims to head the world in social services.” Code Being Prepared

When the subject of sprinkler systems was discussed, Mr. R. Preston, Auckland, suggested that the customs and sales taxes on imported firefighting equipment were too high. It cost, for instance, over £2OOO in sales tax to land the brigade’s new ladder-

"Though it is now nearly a year since the Royal Commission reported upon Ballantyne’s fire, it is known that little or no action has been taken to safeguard buildings comparable to the ill-fated Christchurch premises.’ said the retiring president. Mr. G. Dunnachie. Wellington, at the opening of the conference. “It is understood that new legislation is under consideration for the future control of fire services,” he added. The Standards Institute was also oreparing a code covering fireresisting construction. These measures, together with a "standard means of egress” code, should strengthen the fire-fighting defences. However, it would be being less than realistic to imagine that building codes would have any immediate effect on existing problems. Architects, engineers and the fire service must pool their knowledge to remove the worst of the dangers to life and property.