FIRE PREVENTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2806, 27 November 1931, Page 5

FIRE PREVENTION.

. O. WEEK OF INSTRUCTION. MINIMISING THE RISK. The object of Fire Prevention Week is primarily to awaken the general public to a realisation of the tremendous loss by fire due to carelessness. Once people recognise that about 80 per cent, of the Dominion’s appalling fire loss —the heaviest per capita in the World—is due to the careless neglect of a few elementary precautions, it should be easy to educate them in the few basic principles of fire prevention. Other countries hold Fire Prevention Week as a regular institution of long standing, and the results have been so striking as to warrant the universal enthusiasm which characterises the proceedings. The Paeroa Fire Council and the local brigade have co-operated heartily to bring the matter before the public of Paeroa. Members of the Brigade have made generous sacrifices of their time during the week in order to make the celebration as effective as possible.

On Friday evening last the officials of the Brigade and Fire Council finalised the plans for the week. On Monday evening the Brigade mustered for practice and to show visitors over the station.

On Tuesday evening a fire fighting display was given. ’ This followed the lines of an ordinary practice. By means of the fire engine, motor car and bicycle, members at a given time headed for the large two-storied wooden building occupied by Mr Masters xT «rmanby Road. Here in a very business like manner the ladder was erected and two lends of hose carried to the upper floor, whilst two further leads were run from an adjacent hydrant to the ground flobr. Proceeding next to the Bank of New Zealand, the Brigade ran out a further set of gear, and the water was used demonstrating the splendid pressure obtainable for fire fighting purposes.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Superintendent W. Moooe and a Borough official, assisted clerically hy the secretary of the Brigade, carried out a careful inspection of the business premises of the town for ways and means of reducing or eliminating fire risks.

On Thursday evening, His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) and Cr. E. Edwards, chairman of the Fire Council, inspected the Brigade and its equipment. A four-men squad drill was carried out prior to the detailed inspection. The Brigade was complimented not only on its voluntary service and its spic and span appearance but also upon the manner in which it maintained the property and plant, and the efficient manner in which it always performed- its often arduous duties.

This evening the Brigade will demonstrate four-men squad drill (wet) in the main street, from about 7.30 p.m. Fire drill and special fire prevention lessons arc being made a feature of the school work during the week. In this connection it will be remembered that the set of five lessons in fire prevention used in all schools throughout the Dominion were compiled in 1926 by secretary Malcolm, and hove since received the highest commendation of all the fire authorities of the country.