BURNS' PREMISES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24203, 19 February 1942, Page 9

BURNS' PREMISES

■ ORIGIN OF OUTBREAK TRIBUTE TO BRIGADE SAFEGUARDS IN FUTURE The findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry conducted by j{ r . F. K. Hunt into the fire in the premises of John Burns and Company, jjniited. in Customs Street, Auckland. ' : on August 19, 1941, are set out in a • comprehensive report made to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. ]£. Parry. The fire caused damage estimated at • about £250,000, a male employee received injuries which proved fatal and -'• several others were rescued. The commission was appointed by the Minister ' and the sittings held in November and "December extended over 13 days, evi- •* dence being given by 41 witnesses. Oondition of Switchboard

** In his report Mr. Hunt states that the cause of the fire was quite clear, t- "An office boy, while drawing a trolley • laden with books, accidentally knocked "off the plug on an electrical circuit supplying current to an adding machine," the report stated. Evidence • before the commission showed that an ' -unregistered wireman, instead of drawing the fuse of that circuit and so Tendering the circuit safe, proceeded -to unscrew the part of the plug remaining on the post,* in order, he said, , to shake out the plug. He could not shake it out and tried to push it out : from behind with a screwdriver. This caused an arc or short circuit. Had the switchboard, which was the gaiety valve of the system, been in order, nothing further would have happened, through the unregistered wireman's wrongful or negligent act, other than a blown fuse. But the commission found the switchboard was not in order. Plant and Water Supply The other items, in an extensive order of reference given to the commission, " with a brief summary of the comrais- " sion's findings, are as follows: — The effectiveness of the action taken by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire • - Brigade to combat the fire. —The commission is of the opinion, on the evidence before it, that the brigade did everything necessary to combat the fire ' and "did its work well. Efficiency and adequacy of the exist- "" ing plant and equipment of the brigade for fire-fighting purposes generally. The ■ "efficiency or otherwise of the organisa- • tion and training of the brigade.— Tinder these headings the commission " has expressed itself as being satisfied that the plant and equipment are satisfactory and that the _ brigade is 'properlv organised and trained. " The adequacv of the water supply available for iire-fighting purposes.— The commission states the water supply ■ was adequate for the requirements of - * the fire, and the city authorities have "tin hand the job of rectifying the position in other parts of the. district where the water supply is insufficient for fire- • fighting purposes. Supervision of Fittings The desirability or otherwise of closer ""* supervision and control being exercised ' over the location of electrical equipment and the installation thereof in buildings.—The commission is of the „ opinion that closer supervision and control must be exercised over the location of electrical equipment and its installation. In this part of the report attention is drawn to the failure of the ■Power .Board to make inspections ot electrical installations as required by law at intervals of not.less than five years. . .. , .... , The adequacy of existing building bylaws in operation in the Auckland - metropolitan fire district in regard to '* the fire-proofing of lift wells and other .•vertical openings. The desirability or otherwise of applying to existing build ' ings the present by-laws or any bylaws subsequently made providing for ''adequate means of egress from buildings in case of fire. —Under these headings the commission has drawn atten..tion to the present unsatisfactory pro- ; .vision of proper fire escapes in old - buildings with wooden floors, and the :• fire-proofing of staircases and lift ln- " jtalla'tions such as obtained in the John Burns building. The commission refers v to the fact that the Standards Institute has had under consideration for some considerable time the issue of standard code for the use of local authorities in making by-laws relating to fire protection and fire escapes generally in buildings. The standard code is not yet ready for release, and the commission suggests the council could . pass the by-law as'it is now drawn with the alteration that an appeal from any person aggrieved should be to the ' and not to the council. Drilling of Staff • The protection of exposures of build--fags from fire and related problems.The commission recommends that all "windows or other openings exposed to the effect of fire in any buildings situated within 30ft. laterally should be of wired glass in metal frames, or otherwise adequately protected against the spread of fire. . The desirability or otherwise of occupiers of business premises instructing their staffs in the elementary P r |"' ciples of fire protection and the holding of fire-fighting or fire escape drills. —The commission has recommended that fire escape drills should be held in all factories or other buud- ' ings where large numbers of people are [• employed. v . , | ;>**• The application of any defects in the - general efficiency, equipment, organisaI "tion, or svstem of training ot the . Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade to ' " the fire service in .New Zealand generally in so far as it shall be apparent *" to the commission.—The commission ' has recommended in this respect that | " other fire brigades in the cities should do as Auckland is now dfling to send two machines and the ladder to all ca' ls in the higher fire risk area, and not to change the staff iri the watch room until all necessary orders have been given with respect to the particular fire to which the brigade has been called. Stating it was a well-prepared report. the Minister said the commission's findings and recommendations would receive close attention, and that copies of the full report had been sent to the Government departments and the various bodies concerned.