CHRISTCHURCH FIRE BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13999, 4 September 1907, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH FIRE BOARD

THE COST OF FALSE ALARMS,

(PaoK Ons Own Cobbespondent) • ' CHRISTCHURCH, September 3. ■ At its meeting, to-night the Fire Board .duouoed the matter of fake alarms,- of which there .were no fewer than three- jast ftidar evenmg. The Chairman stated that these cost the board £20/ and in addition three other, alarms had been given recently costing £26/ The cost could have been reduced to a great extant had tho person communicating the alarm given tho necessary particulars through the telephone when calling tho brigade. It'waV desirable that the public should know that the failure to give particulars of the nature of a fire when giving an alarm by telopnone involved an unneceesaty expenditure of about £6 10s [or every turn-out. J. rinted instructions • for calling up tha bngado might bo sent out with every telephono list, to bo posted in a'conspiouous place near the telephone, or similar instructions might be distributed with insnranco policies and premium receipts, with the insertion o! a condition in tho policies to tho-effectj that neglect to observe the eamo would render tho insured•, liable- to a penalty. Owing to tho present scale of charges of the City Council for horsingthe engines, it cost the' board something liko £7 each time tho brigade turned out. Superintendent Smith suggested that'a Toward of £10 should bo offered 'for the cbnviotion of aJiy persoij wilfully givin? a false alarm. . Tho average number of 'these turn-outs was 20 per annum. Hβ also suggested that a clauso ■ should : bo put\in the amending.Firo Bill .making the giving of a false alarm punishable by , imprisonment or a heavy fine, as • under the English law. The cost in 12 months for false alarms was very heavy, without reckoning the. wear, and tear" of plant, and the chances of accidents. On several occasions lio had detained the plant while a man went up the look-out, which meant a lose of two minute. The board decided to offer a reward of £5 for the conviction of any person wilfully giving a false alarm. It was also decided to ap'proach tho Post Office authorities with , a request that instructions might be. printed on the faces .of telephone lists advising persons telephoning to tho brigado to de-. scribo the nature of the fire. ' . ■ ,