EXCESSIVE FIRE LOSSES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19904, 25 September 1926, Page 15

EXCESSIVE FIRE LOSSES.

CAUSED BY ELECTRIC WIRES. INQUIRIES IN AUCKLAND. DUNEDIN'S EXPERIENCE REPEATS® (From Ojb Own CoBBEaPONDBNT.) AUCKLAND, September 24. “We consider that the position is much the same in Auckland,’’ said the chairman of the Auckland Fire Board (Mr J. J. Kingston) to-day, in referring to Hie opinion expressed at Dunedin that fusing of electric wires was the cause of a large proportion of the fire losses, and he agreed) that there was something wrong when the total fir© loss in the Dominion ior the past year was over £1,000,000. Mr Kingston said that the opinion was also held in Auckland that good could be done, and the fire waste lessened, were the Education Department to distribute printed information on fire prevention through the schools, drawing attention to the grave loss that was being brought about through carelessness with naked lights, smoking, and in other ways. He said it w’as an accepted truth that fires were easier to prevent than extinguish. Further, that many of the fires that occurred in houses were due to carelessness or neglect. One good suggestion came from America, where, in various centres, under the joint direction of the fire prevention committees and the chambers of commerce, a survey of fire risks was made through school children’s questionnaire printed forms, and as an outcome the pub-

lic was acquainted with a large number of simple facts relating to the causes of fire and fire risks. Other inquiries in Auckland fire insurance circles emphasised “the silent risk,” as electrical equipment was termed, and the need of the most careful inspection in regard to electrical installation and equipment. An instance was given where electricity had been connected with a new house in one of the" Auckland suburbs before the water supply was connected, and, as somebody apparently turned on the switch for the water-heater, the empty tank soon became hot and set fire to the woodwork. It might be a case of teaching parents through the children,” said the chairman of the Auckland Education Board, Mr A. Burns, in regard to the suggestion that the Education Department should be asked to distribute printed .information on the subject of fire prevention. The Chairman thought that there were more cases of carelessness among the parents, but he agreed that the circulation of any information on the subject would probably result in good. He thought that the American questionnaire form of inquiry _ was too pointed for New Zealand requirements, and would be resented by many parents, but, on the other hand, the publication of

some simple advice for the benefit of the parents and children alike would have everything to commend it. The Superintendent of the Auckland Fire Brigade, Mr W. L. Wilson, said there was no doubt many fires in Auckland were due to carelessness and the non-observance of the simple rules for safety. On the subject of fires from electrical causes, he said that it did not always follow that the cause was due to a fault on the part of the electrical mechanic or defective installation. There were a good many amateurs nowadays who imagined they were skilled electricians, and there were many who took the risk of inserting a new fuse when one had blown out. In an instance of fire it had been ascertained that a piece of wire from a ginger beer bottle had been used He added that the Auction statistics showed that carelessness with gas was responsible for many fires.