FALSE FIRE ALARMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 October 1926, Page 4

FALSE FIRE ALARMS.

UNNECESSARY RISKS INCURRED,

HEAVY PENALTIES INVOLVE!/.

The false alarms which on Thursday andi Monday evenings respectively sent members of the Ha were, Fire Brigade speeding to check outbreaks which proved to be non-existent, have given rise to drastic and merited comment by those interested in the welfare and efficiency of the town’s fire-fighting unit.

Concerning the cases in point, it was ascertained on Monday evening; thsvt the cal l , originated in a foolish .prank perpetrated in playful spirit, by a youth who, without any conception, apparently, of the seriousness of the action, pressed the switch of the Duplex system situated at the corner of High and Collins streets. It is understood that, as the result of steps taken by the boy’s guardians, the misdemeanour is not likelv to recur, but the occasion should not be allowed to pass without stressing the gravity of the offence'. While it will be conceded that the practice of sounding false -alarms involves unnecessary hazard to the firemen—whose speedy response to calls necessarily entails certain risks—as well as unnecessary wear on expensive equipment, the heavy liability incurred by those responsible is not perhaps widely appreciated. The Fire Brigade’s Act provides that any who interferes with any fire alarm without lawful justification,' or wilfully influences any false alarm to a fire brigade, is liable for imprisonment for a l , period not exceeding one month, or to a fine not exceeding £SO. The last annual report presented by the Dominion Inspector of Fire Brigades recorded that false . alarms throughout New Zealand during the year ended June 30, 1926, numbered 276. This .must necessarily have entailed considerable cost, apart from, rendering the firemen liable to accident. Durine the last five years serious injuries""have been sustained by a. considerable number of firemen whilst turning out in response to false alarms, and in at least two eases accidents proved fatal. Such facts give forcible emphasises to the dangers to which members of fire brigades have been, unnecessarily exposed through the foolishness of ' nersons who tbouightlessly sought to carry out practical, jokes of a narticularlv reprehensible nature. Were they more extensively known, together with the heavy punishment which may follow convictions for causing false alarms, it is probable that the number of such offences which -occur annually would be. greatly lessened, if not completely done away with.