FALSE FIRE ALARMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 6, 6 December 1930, Page 8

FALSE FIRE ALARMS

In every city there is a type of < people whd derive a peculiar sat-' isfaction from committing acts of wanton mischief, or in hoaxing others. A few months ago motor car thieving was most prevalent in Palmerston North; when pointed attention was drawn to the matter it ceased. Now the Fire Brigadesmen are the subject of attention from some misguided individual who is giving false alarm calls. It is not suggested that there is any connection between people who unlawfully take another person’s motor car for the purpose of joy riding and those who give false alarm calls to a Fire Brigade; both are mentioned just to show how these “incidents” occur somewhat like cycles. Both offences are most reprehensible and may easily involve loss of life. It is not long since an Auckland Fire Brigade was answering a. false alarm call when an accident occurred to the motor engine and firemen were killed in the crash. Fortunately, Palmerston North has been spared such a tragbdy, but the possibility becomes greater as the population and traffic grow. But not only are danger and annoyance caused to brigadesmen when they receive false alarms; each time time auxiliary firemen answer the call the Fire Board must recompense them for their services. In this way the annual cost of the service can be considerably increased. Only the most drastic penalty should be inflicted on such people if caught.