LARGE ANNUAL LOSS CAUSED BY FIRE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3462, 25 September 1926, Page 10

LARGE ANNUAL LOSS CAUSED BY FIRE

PROBLEMS OF THE FUSING Of ELECTRIC WIRES SERIOUS NEED TO EDUCATE PUBLIC DUNEDIN, Sept. 24. The fusing of electric wires caused a fairly large fire loss in Hie Dunedin fire district last year and this fact was commented upon by members at Hie last meeting of tbc Fire Board. Mr. W. B. Taverner said the matter had been discussed by the ElectricPower and Lighting Committee of His City Council and Hie opinion appeared to be that fusing was not a very prevalent cause of fires, but according to Hie report of Superintendent Napier such was the case. The toss through the fusing of electric wiring bad been very high. Mr. J. J. Clark said this loss was probably due to neglect or bad wiping. They had to include loss by electrie irons, lamps and heaters when considering the total. Tho cause of so many such fires had been frequently discussed by the City Council Yearly Ixvss of £1,000.000 Superintendent A. G. Napier said tho brigade was always in touch with the Electric-Power and Lighting Committee. He included in the fusing list of losses only those which were definitely known to have been caused by the fusing of electric wiring. Mr. A. Burn said a very large number of calls had been received to fires caused through the fusing of electric wires and the backfiring of motor vehicles. He cited a ease where a house had been badly damaged at St. Hilda, where, although they could not prove it, there was every indication that the outbreak was due to defective electric wiring. An effort was being made to see if something could be done to educate the people in the prevention and danger of fire Something was wrong when the total fire loss of the Dominion last year was over £l.eon.non. This was serious in a country which had a population of just over 1.04 0,0(10. Example From America He thought something could be done to lower this fire waste by getting the Education Department to distribute printed information on fire prevention in the School Journal. Sued! information was distributed throughout America. If the people of Now Zealand could be brought to realise (he grave loss that was being brought about through carelessness with naked lights, smoking and In other ways, something might be done to lessen the loss considerably. 2’hft present great loss through fire was probably due to ignorance on tho part of tho people.