FIRE LOSSES

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1940, Page 8

FIRE LOSSES

REPORT FOR YEAR.

(Per Press Association—Copyright)

WELLINGTON, April 29.

For the year 1938, in respect to a the full Dominion -figures have become available, New Zealand’s fire losses in respect to insured property totalled £596,267. This was £138,250 in excess of the previous year’s,fosses,' though the number of fires, 5,956, was slightly fewer.

The number of fires has been steadily rising since 1933, though lire losses, except for the yearl93s, have been dropping. They came down to 5.60 per cent, of the insured cover in 1937, but the latest analysis shows the proportion to be 8.51 per cent. No special significance is attached to the increased fire loss, which' seemed to be distributed throughout the Dominion, the increases in Auckland being £27,123; Wellington, £3,332; Christchurch, £76,668; and Dunedin, £9,407. What caused a rise in the loss ratio was the number of fires in which blocks of buildings were involved. There were in 1938 15 of these fires, with an average loss of £14,000, compared with an >'average pf seven fires and £9,000 loss in the preceding four years. Though many fires destroy evidence of their origin, the official return is able to include suggestions as to the reasons for most of them, the conclusion being published that the majority of fires are preventable, and that they aro due to carelessness.

Defective chinineys, fireplaces, etc., were stated to be responsible for 1,838 fires, resulting in an insured loss of £334,561; smoking and misuse of matches 3,061 fires and £138,922 losses, use and misuse of highly inflammable spirits and material, 704 fires find £59,047 losses; while the use of electricity was the cause given in 3,987 fifes with consequent losses of £182,587.

The general belief that the weekend is the dangerous time for fires is supported by the official analysis of daily incidence. From Saturday to Monday is the busy time for fire brigades. “The number of fires on Mondays,” states the report, “is evidently due to the popularity of that day as washing day.” Week-end migration of the population from urban areas is noted as the probable reason for a fall in the fire rate which, however. is -offset by the relatively large number of fires which occur on Sundays in extra-urban districts.