GREY FIRE GUARDS

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1942, Page 1

GREY FIRE GUARDS

Protection Scheme At a meeting of the Fire Committee, recently appointed, steps were taken to institute a compulsory fire protection for buildings tn the Borough of Greymouth and the mobilisation of fire guard tor the business portion of the town. Mr. J. Saunders, Chairman of . the Fire Board, presided. National Service Department circulars dealing with the matter were considerocl. It was resolved that notification cf the requirements for fire first aid be served on the owners of all premises in the area between the Grev River and the GreymouthHokitika Railway line, also of premises in Tainui Street. The owners of the business premises are to furnish the equipment. The occupiers are to notify the fire brigade superintendent where such equipment is placed. A schedule of equipment will be notified. At present, bucket pumps with 30ft, of rubber hose are not obtainable, nor are universal tap connections. The Public Works Department. . has these matters in hand. An announcement w’ill be made when these items on the schedule must be procured and placed in al) shops before Saturday, 7th. March. The duty of allocating lire guards to business premises devolves on the occupiers. It is suggested that members of staffs and employers be appointed as lire watchers. In time of emergency such personnel will be required daily to be actually on the premises during the hours between closing and opening, also at weekends. Provision in cities is made for the fire guard to sleep on the premises, and this may become necessary in Greymouth. One week is to be given the occupier to notify i the names of the staff to be appointed as a fire guard. The committee ask the co-operation of all business houses in attending to the requisition immediately it is received. The recently enrolled members of the E.P.S. have to be drafted to certain organisations quickly, but on account of the fact that the interiors of shops will have to be •patrolled, it >,s considered more convenient that employees be allocated to their own shops. AS soon as this allocation is completed, the remaining E.P.S. men can be placed in other appropriate duties. At a meeting of the Central Committee of the Grey E.P.S. last evening, the following personnel of the tire committee was approved: Fire Brigade Superintendent A. White, Deputy-Superintendent T. Mclntosh, Messrs J. Hughson (Public Works Department). H. Lane (Traffic Inspector), N. B. McCallum (zone warden). and W. S. McClymont (Power Board).

It was decided, after considering a circular received from the National Service Department, that the powers of the Central Committee as regards fire-fighting be delegated to the Fire Committee.