FIRE WASTE IN NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18802, 3 March 1923, Page 12

FIRE WASTE IN NEW ZEALAND

METHODS OF PI!INVENTION, ADDRESS BY INSPECTOR HUGO. Inspector Hugo, in his opening remarks, said that on previous occasions lie had principally dealt with questions relating to appliances the efficient use of equipment, but that afternoon he intended to speak to them about fire prevention. In Ins last annual report ho had staled that at a conservative estimate the fire, waste in New Zealand had amounted to £900,000, or 11s 9d per head of the population. Tho actual insurance losses for that year amounted to £700,310 —a Iteirvicr loss by something over £200,000 than that for the previous worst year, 1917. Information which he had since received would show that tho fire waste actually amounted to £1,000,000. As to this huge loss, which tho speaker contended was prcventiblc to a very large extent, he asked why it was allowed to go on from year to year. The public did not seem to realise that loss by fire was a national loss, and that although a property might be insured its destruction by fire simply meant that the loss was transferred from one pocket to another. Tho point to be remembered was that any property destroyed by fire was irrevocably gone —it simply went up in Smoke. A wellknown authority hud stated that 90 per cent, of the fires were due to causes that were easily prcventiblc. the principal of these being carelessness. A specially prepared table showed that 20 per cent, of the fires were caused by carelessly throwing down lighted matches—generally wax matclKsa—and by cigarette butts, and that 10 per cent, originated in rubbish that had been allowed to accumulate. To-day fire prevention work was looked upon as being of quite ns much importance as firo extinction, and it formed an integral part of firo brigade education and administration. There was no doubt whatever that' a large percentage of the fires which occurred in New Zealand were due to carelessness, and he wished to impress upon his hearers that once they had joined a five brigade it became the duty of each one of them individually, as well as the duty of the brigade collectively, to do what they could to reduce the excessive number of fires that occurred in the dominion.

Tho speaker aaid he wished them clearly to understand that he was not detracting from the very valuable work which the volunteer brigades were doing. For the information of those who were not working under Fire Boards ho might state that when making Jus periodical visits of inspection lie proceeded with the chief officer of tho local brigade to the scene of any firo which had taken place recently, and there discussed the cause of it, and how it was, or might have been, worked, etc. On two occasions, with the same brigade, ho had seen work which was quite equal in its effectiveness to any he had seen performed by any other brigade, professional or otherwise. How were they to go about the state of affairs which led to the excessive fire loss? They should begin at the root by teaching fire prevention in the schools. This was being regularly carried out in America, where lectures were -delivered regularly in the schools by fire brigade officers. In some states they had a fire prevention week. In Canada October 9 was set asioc as “Fire Prevention Day” by procLamation by the Governor-General, and why should we not have a similar day or week in New Zealand? They already had a lead in that direction in the form of a health week.

In a large number of towns, added Inspector Hugo, it was a common experience to find the street hydrant boxes filled with dirt or covered' with road metal. The indicators wore either inconspicuous or were so covered with growth that it was hard to find the hydrants, and in some cases they were missing altogether. Such conditions had been the cause on many occasions of a much heavier fire loss than would have occurred if the hydrants had been in proper order. In illustration of this point Inspector Hugo referred to a fire which had broken out in a town in Taranaki. If tho hydrant had been in proper order the fire would have been extinguished with a loss of not more than £SO at the outside, but owing to the fact that it was covered with road metal i the actual loss sustained was something like *£l2oo. Clause I, section 256, of the Municipal Corporations Act read as follows:—“The council shall fix fire plugs in the main pipes of the water works (if any) in the borough at a distance of not more than 100 yards from each other and at the fhost convenient places for extinguishing any fire, and shall keep such fire plugs in effective order.” The latter part of clause 2 read thus:—“And put upon any building it thinks fit near each fire plug a conspicuous notice showing the situation, thereof.” In the event of a fire occurring and causing a loss not covered' by insurance it was a moot question as to what, would be the extent of tho responsibility of the local body should any part of the loss have been caused by the non-efficiency of the hydrants.

Regarding the question of insurance, Inspector Hugo stated that when a proposal for insurance was made sometimes an insurance official visited the premises, and sometimes he did not, the proposal being taken at ite face value. A man thus got all tho cover he wanted on his property, and in consequence lie became careless as far as fire was concerned. Cases, had been known whore people who were in need of ready money making a good cash sale to an insurance company. • Carelessness on the partof tho insurance companies in the first instance induced carelessness—often called incendiarism—on the part of the insured.

It might be thought, said Inspector Hugo, that the question of fire in the larger warehouses, emporiums, etc., was entirely a matter for the owners thereof, .but that was not so, for when a fire of any magnitude occurred in any of the larger stores it invariably resulted in more or less damage to neighbouring buildings and their stocks. When such buildings could, by the installation of automatic sprinklers or alarms, bo rendered safe from any but the smallest outbreaks of fire at very small, or even ultb mately, no cost to the owners, it became at least their moral responsibility to the community to make such installations. In a European country this responsibility was, or had been, insisted upon to the extent that if a fire broke out in any building the owner of it was liable for any damage done to the adjoining property. The per capita loss byfire in that country was about 8d per bead of population. Speaking with reference to the value of automatic sprinklers and alarms, Inspector Hugo said that according to tho evidence given before a Royal Commission in England while a total amount of £1,615,915 was received in premiums on buildings protected by automatic alarms, the total fire loss amounted to only £42,272, or per cent, of the premiums received, as against a loss ratio of 50 per cent, on unprotected property. In respect to sprinkler-protected risks, the Orinnoll showed over 30,003 known fires, with an average damage by fire and water of £6O for each outbreak, and it must bo remembered that it was only the larger and more hazardous risks that were so protecCed. The speaker also mentioned that premium rebates were allowed by the insurance companies whore sprinklers or approved alarm systems were installed. In some cities a rebate of 50 per cent, was allowed for sprinklers and 15 per cent, for alarms. The rebate was somewhat lower in New Zealand, so that in many cases in a few years the rebate in premiums would pay for the cost of installation, which cccured immunity from serious fires to the owner of the property and bis neighbours. In many cities it wa.s now oomnulsory to have automatic sprinklers or alarms established in all buildings over a certain cubic capacity. Inspector Hugo then proceeded to give a list of general instructions in regard to fire prevention. He aloo spoke on tho question of perpendicular ladders being used for fire escapes. Ho stated that he did not consider them suitable in any but private houses. A fire escape for use in any building whore a number of people, especially strangers, were located should be pitched at an angle, with side rails and flat or double treads. The speaker referred in flattering terms fo the work of New Zealand manufacturers of fire-fighting appliances as compared with the articles turned out in Great Britain,- and ho also touched ou the excessive cost of installing street fire alarms. , Inspector Hngo concluded by stating that this wa.s tho most, business-like conference he bad ever attended. The delegates appeared to have come here with a knowledge of what they wanted, and they had not talked just for tho sake of talking. President Lucas expressed the gratitude of flic association to Inspector Hugo for his address. A hearty vole of thanks was accorded Inspector Hugo, and it was decided to ask the Department to have 233 copies of the address printed and distributed amongst the brigades. The Hon. Mr Stewart, through Mr Itislop, intimated that tho request would be acceded to.