DOMINION’S FIRE LOSSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 9 November 1934, Page 6

DOMINION’S FIRE LOSSES.

Another remarkable drop in the Dominion’s fire loss has been recorded in the annual review of the Chief Inspector of Fire Brigades which has been presented to Parliament. The figures for 1933, though somewhat belated in their presentation, show that a gratifying check has been placed upon the high rate of fire wastage that caused so much concern a few years ago. The loss by fire in 1933 was almost £645,000, but this contrasts with over £200,000 more in the previous year, and an average for the five years up to 1931 of £1,332,032. Credit is given to the public appreciation of the facts regarding fires for this commendable reduction ; it might be said further that this state of affairs is a direct contradiction to the belief held in some quarters that economic depression begets high rates of fire wastage. In some degree, too, the replacement of wooden buildings in city areas by brick or concrete structures is responsible for the reduction in loss; this factor must continue to have an influence for some years yet. Another indication of the wideness of the improvement is that in fire districts the loss in twelve fires (each of over £SOOO damage) was £136,549, or half the aggregate loss in such districts for the year—£2B4,3s3. Fortunately fatalities due to fires showed no increase, the number (seven) being the same as in the previous year. In this connection it should be noted that three of the_ deaths were caused by persons using petrol inside buildings in the vicinity of fires ox- naked lights. Another part of the Chief Inspector’s report dealing with causes of fires says that “those from the domestic use of petrol inside buildings (home dry-cleaning) appear to be increasing and are the most prolific source of personal injury.” Taking the report broadly, it can be said that the greatest contribution to fire loss is carelessness. A substantial improvement in the statistics relating to this form of wastage is commendable, but it would be unwise to relax the attention paid to the need for educating the public against neglect. Frequently there has been stressed the utter loss to the community by fire wastage; it is appropriate to again draw attention to tne fact that in the long run everyone pays for neglect or wilful destruction by this means.