ANNUAL FIRE LOSSES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 124, 24 April 1940, Page 8

ANNUAL FIRE LOSSES

OVER HALF A MILLION. THE - CAUSES DETAILED. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, April 24. For the year 1938, in respect to which the full Dominion figures have become available, New Zealand’s firs losses in respect to insured property totalled £596,267. This was £133.250 in excess of the previous losses, though the number of fires, 5956, was slightly fewer. The number of fires has been steadily rising since 1933, though Ere losses, except tor the year 1935, 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, £3332; Christchurch, £76.668; and Dunedin, £9407. What caused a rise in the kiss ratio was the number of fires in which blocks of buildings were involved. There were in 193 S 15 of these fires with an average loss of £14,000, compared with an average of seven fires and £9OOO 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 preventible, and that they are due to carelessness. Defective chimneys, fireplaces, etc., were stated to he responsible lor IS3S fires resulting in an insured loss of £334.561; smoking and misuse ot matches, 3061 fires and £138.922 losses; use and misuse of highly inflammable spirits and material. 704 fires and £59 047 losses; while the use of elec; tricitv was the cause given in 398/ fires with- consequent losses ot £182,587. The general belief that the week-end is the dangerous time for fires is supported by the official analysis of daily incidence. From Saturday to Monday is the btisv time for fire brigades. “The number of fires on Mondays, ’ states the report, “is evidently due to tlie popularity of that day as washingday.” ' 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 extraurban districts.