FIRES IN SYDENHAM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15124, 13 October 1909, Page 3

FIRES IN SYDENHAM.

FACILITIES FOR ALARMS. The. destruction by fire on Monday evening of a four-roomed cottage in Beckenham gave rise to a warm debate at last evening's meeting of the Sydenham Burgesses' Association, which was attended by about thirty members. It was stated that since the. telephone at the Sydenham fire station was no longer connected with the exchange, the only connection being with the Lichfield Street fire station, the Sydenham Brigade had been placed at a considerable disadvantage. The president (Mr G. £. Good) said that on tlie previous evening a motor chemical engine ir.om the Lichfield Street station, to which the alarm was first counnunicatod. had passed Battersea .Street, on its way to the five in Tennyson Street, before the bell at the Sydenham station was rung in response to the call from hcftdqnai Lers. The house in which the fire occurred was completely destroyed., and he believed that had there been telephonic communication with the Sydenham station the progress ol the Ere might have been stayed at an earlier stage. The

Sydenham Brigide was not only seriously handicapped by the delay in dealing with the tire, but its tardy appearance must affect its reputation. It was decided to approach the Fire Board again in the. matter, and ask that the telephone at the station should be connected with the Christchureh oxciijmjre. Some discussion also took place regarding the removal of the chemical engine, from Sydenham. The secretary

"*aid that ho had. received a letter from the secretary of the- Fire Beard, stating that he "would be pleased to discuss the matter with him. Although he considered that it was not « matter for discussion between the secretaries of the two bodies, he bad called upon the secretarv of the Fire Board.

The president said that the Association bad forwarded a resolution on the matter to the Board, and it was entitled to ;i reply in the usual manner.

It was agreed that a deputation, comsisting of the president, the vice-presi-dent and the. secretary should wait upon the Board and place the views of the Association before it.

When seen by a reporter last evening with regard to the question of the communication of alarm to the Sydenham Brigade, Superintendent ICrck said that the man who was in charge of the telephone called up the Sydenham Brigade immediately the alarm was received, and ordered it to turn out. The alarm was given to Sydenham as the motor chemical from Lichfield Street was turning out. If was not surprising that the motor .engine had reached Battersea Street before Sydenham turned cut. as the engine travelled at thirtv miles an hour.