FIRE SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23048, 27 May 1938, Page 14

FIRE SERVICE

SIX MEN ON LEAVE NO RESPONSE TO ALARM THE CHRISTCHURCH CASE FURTHER EXPLANATION GIVEN [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHUBCH, Thursday Revising his earlier statement concerning the distribution of the staff of the Christchurch Fire Brigade on Monday morning, when fire destroyed Macduff's building and the State Theatre, the chairman of tho Eire Board, Mr. T. M. Charters, said that six men who were sleeping at the Central Station failed to answer the general alarm. He added that the staff of 47 men, 19 brigade members and one volunteer from holiday leave attended the fire. In actual fact tho number on duty was sufficient, but the question was whether, under tho existing award conditions, more men would have been available in the event of the fire spreading toward Armagh Street. Tho actual staff position when tho alarm was received, said Mr. Charters, was twenty men on holiday, one on sick loave, and eight men standing by at tho four stations. Nineteen men turned out to Macduff's, plus one volunteer from holiday loave. Of the remaining 19 men on holiday leave, six were sleeping at headquarters and one at Sydenham. A Wrong Impression

"The point is made that three men who ordinarily were to have taken their day's leave on the day of the fire voluntarily placed themselves under the orders of the superintendent," said Mr. Charters. "That definitely creates a wrong impression. The fact is that these three men were due to go on leave at 8 a.m., but as they were at the fire at that hour they could be asked, naturally, to carry on." Regarding Mr. Glover's statement that the men on leave at the station were not asked to fight the flames. Mr. Charters said he would point out that there was no response from these men- to the general alarm, which was sounded throughout the station. "There is no time to run round the station to find out who is there." he added "If there is no response it must bo assumed that no men aro there. No penalty is provided for not responding. This is clearly indicated by the Auckland superintendent's statement. Otherwise, why should there be reference to a gentleman's agreement?" No Orders Given "Mr. Glover stated that only a small number of those offering their services were accepted, and that others were told to 'stand by' for orders, which never came," Mr. Charters continued. "As the six men who have since been found to have slept on tho station did not respond to the general alarm it is apparent that they could not have received orders of any kind. "Whether the staff is, or- is not, adequate to handle efficiently any potential outbreak in the city will be largely governed by the number of men left on the stations if, and when, further increased leave allowances are granted. "I should like to assure Mr. Glover that I bow not even to him in rav appreciation of the work of the firefighters of this Dominion. Any other interpretation of my remarks would bo grossly unfair and entirely misleading."

BRIGADE'S METHODS SATISFACTORY ANSWER SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday The request for a public inquiry into tiio fire-fighting methods of Christchurch was strongly supported by the manager of the local branch of Lloyds, Mr \V B. Honcur, to-day. Mr. Honour said that questions regarding the tactics employed by the brigade in combating the fire which caused' extensive damage at Macduff's building and to the State Theatre on Monday morning had been answered by Superintendent A. Morrison to the full satisfaction of lus company, but the question did not end there. Although Superintendent Morrison had given satisfactory answers, it was now clear that factors over which he had no control contributed largely to the destruction of ttie buildings. At this point it was for tiie puolic authorities to step 111 ana hold an investigation. i'he possibility was that some serious structural faults would be sbown and that these were the basic cuuse of tho spread of the fire.

"In the interests of public safety the incidence of. 'two serioi;s lires within u few days of each other, and the presence Of factors that made the work of tho brigade inellectual to prevent heavy losses, a public inquiry into all aspects of .fire-fighting in the city is warranted," said Mr. Honour. He added that his company was not looking on the question from the commercial standpoint, but thought that a lead should be given to public opinion. Any question of an inquiry would have no bearing on the settlement of claims. These were being dealt with as speedily as possible. Mr. Honour added that while tho chairman of the Fire Board, Mr. T. M. Charters, appeared to be mainly concerned with combating award conditions that he considered were likely to affect the efficiency of the brigade, this was not the main issue in Mr. Honour's opinion. He wanted to correct any impression thai? might lmvo been drawn from the remarks he made yesterday that. Mr. Charters was attempting to avoid discussion of the main issue. What ho had wished to imply was that, if an inquiry was confined to the operation of the award, other important questions would not receive attention. fn addition to an examination of the conditions prescribed in the award, the -•cone of the investigation should be widened so that it could deal with the 'trength of the brigade. the condition -f the equirmient. eqiiirunent itself, and miestien of enrolling and training auxiliary firemen for service in eases •>f emergency. The inquiry should alse be comnrehensivo enough to deal with the, building by-laws, which seemed to require revision.