NELSON FIRE BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 26 November 1943, Page 2

NELSON FIRE BOARD

QUARTERLY MEETING TO-DAY CAUSES OF FIRES The quarterly meeting of the Nelson Fire Board was held to-day. Those present were Messrs E. R. Neale (chairman), K. Mason, C. W. Miller, H. G. B. Hurst, and the secretary Mr F. Mitchell The Fire Brigade Superintendent (Mr A. J. Drummond) was in attendance. An apology was received from the Hon. W. Black. Mr Neale welcomed to the board Mr Hurst who had been appointed as City Council representative in succession to Mr S. McArthur. Accounts amounting to £1,142 4s 2d were passed for payment. An application for a grant made by the Nelson Fire Police was held in abeyance to be dealt with by the local members on receipt of further information. A letter was received from the Di-rector-General, Mental Hospitals Department, thanking the board and its officers for co-operation in regard to the investigation of fire hazards at the Mental Hospital. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT The superintendent (Mr Drummond) in his report stated that the number of calls to fires and supposed fires received by the brigade during the quarter had totalled 28. Of this number six were property fires, one gorse, grass and rubbish, 12 chimney fires and nine false alarms (four justifiable and five malicious). The causes of the fires, where ascertainable, were as follows:—Foul flue, 12; electrical short circuit, 1; hot ashes in contact with waste paper. 1; children playing with matches, 1; lighted matches, cigarette ends, etc. thrown down, 3; faulty chimney, 1; total, 19. The insurances on buildings and their contents affected by fire during the quarter totalled £30,700. The loss on properties covered by insurance was £4210 17s 6d and the loss on buildings not covered by insurance, £5. The total loss on insured property for the year to date was £4755 9s lid. The personnel of the brigade comprised a permanent staff of a superintendent and three brigadesmen and a volunteer staff of a foreman and 14 brigadesmen, a total staff of 19 members. It wa£ also reported that the Emergency Fire Service now held parades only once in each month. One trailer pump had been recalled to Wellington, leaving one for service with the E.F.S. The superintendent’s report was adopted.