THE FIRE MENACE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21163, 22 October 1930, Page 5

THE FIRE MENACE.

DUNEDIN CITY LOSSES. A NOTICEABLE DECLINE. Statistics placed before yesterday's meeting of the Fire Board show that the loss through fire in Dunedin city and suburbs during the year ended on March 31 this year was considerably less than the total loss for the previous year. Details of the past year’s operations were furnished in the annual report of the board, statement of accounts, and Superin* tendent J. J. Salmon’s report for the period. This was an interesting and comprehensive document, the details of which are as follows: The total number of calls attended was 300, as against 489 for the previous year, which constituted a record. Details or the 390 calls are:—

Fires in or on property 115 Fires —Motor vehicles and cycles .. 10 Rubbish and bush fires 47 Chimney fires 125 False Alarms— Malicious .. .. 33 Justifiable ’ 22 Accidental 7 Automatic 31 The South Dunedin section of the brigade attended 120 calls and Roslyn 66. Comparing the figures with those of the previous year, fires on property decreased by 27; motors and cycles by 11; bush and rubbish by 33; whilst chimney fires increased by one. Malicious false alarms decreased by 31, and justifiable by 5, whilst accidental alarms increased by three and automatic by four. Of the 33 malicious alarms, 19 were transmitted from street alarms and 14 by telephone. The calls for the year ended June 30, 1908, which was the first year the brigade was under the control of the board, totalled 84. The most serious fire losses were:— Usherwood’s (Rattray street) .. £2,794 Boarding house (Bedford street) 2,655 Dwelling (Arthur street) .... 1,450 Dwelling (Anderson’s Bay) .. .. 1,321 Dwelling (Stafford street) .. .. 1,250 Dwelling (St. Kilda) 1,205 Whitcombe and Tombs 1,123 The value of property at risk was;— Insured .. £371,670 Uninsured 2,823 £374,493 The total loss by fire was £23,834, as follows: Insured buildings .. .. £14,909 Contents .. .. ~ .. 8,066 Uninsured buildings .. 98 Contents 761 The above figures compare favourably with the three previous years, when tbe losses were;— Year ending 1927 .. .. £59,600 Year ending 1928 .. .. 23,080 Year ending 1929 .. .. 42,867 Following is a summary of the nature of the calls Received by the brigade during the period under review:— *•« s Jj-ll S'. J 3 BaSja S § -43 gJ g .'2 'll <)£( p; Si*, oh Sfevij <j|£ g

The following is a comparative table on fires and losses in Dunedin since 1908:

The superintendents report states that the principal causes of fires were:— oparks 9, petrol ignition 6, tar boiling over 5, back-firing of motors 5, fusing of wires 3, smoking in bed 3, children with matches 3, live ashes 3. Three- new alarm points were erected, -the duplex system continued to give entire satisfaction, no trouble having been ex Pcnencod with the installation. ~ -Three premises had been connected to the Central Station by automatic alarms. A continuous generating “ Foamite ” plant, 3500 ft of canvas hose, and 12 tarpaulins were added to the eauipment during the year. The batteries in the electric turntable nre escape were reconditioned and painted. All plant and equipment were in first-class order. The central and out-stations wore in good order, and only minor repairs would be necessary. The City Council Water Department continued to make good progress with the replacement of old Sin mains with those of a larger size. _ The north end of the city had been finished, and attention was now being given to the most urgent portions of South Dunedin.

New mains laid during the year were: Gin, 35J chains; 4in, 134 chains: Sin replaced by 4in, 224 A chains. Forty-six fireplugs had been added. Notwithstanding the fact that the size of the mains was being increased, somewhat improving the flow, the pressure was gradually decreasing, and difficulty had been experienced in getting an efficient supply to deal with outbreaks of fire. Indications .were that it would be some considerable time before any improvement in the supply could be hoped for. Consequently it was imperative that further pumping plant be procured to enable the brigade to use to the best advantage the water in the mains. Since the report had been compiled a new Dennis light motor and pump had been purchased. and formed a valuable addition to the fire service. The staff was at full strength; the conduct and discipline were good; regular drills were carried out, and the men were keen to become efficient and to fit themselves for any emr-gency that might arise.

It was gratifying to record that no serious accidents occurred to the public or members of tbe brigade during the year.

It was with regret that the superintendent placed on record the death of Auxiliary Fireman G. Leslie, who had been a member of the Dunedin Brigade for over 35 years. The thanks of the officers of the brigade were due to the police, and also the Water Department for much valuable and timely assistance given to the brigade. The St. John Ambulance motors conveyed 1396 patients, and travelled 10,841 miles during the year. ' The report of the board states that the capital amount of the Sinking Fund on March 31 was £10.742 16s Bd, as against £9814 Is on March 31, 1929, the fund showing an increase for the year of £928 15s Bd. The capital amount of the Special Fund for the purchase of sites 'or out-stations on March 31, 1930. was tBl2 Is 9d, as against £773 7s 8d on March 31. 1929, the fund showing an increase for the year of £3B 14s Id. On September 26 1929. the present Central Fire Station freehold, with buildings thereon, was sold to Messrs R. Hudson and Co., Ltd., possession to be given on or before S'ptember 26, 1931. On November 26, 1929, the contract for the erection of a new Central ■ Fire Station on the site previously purchased by the board was accepted, and the foundation stone was laid on March 18, 1930. The work of erection is proceeding satisfactorily. the date of completion being April 1, 1931. Superintendent A. G.- Napier, who bad been in charge of the brigade

since 1912, resigned on account of illhealth, and Mr J. J. Salmon, deputysuperintendent, was appointed to succeed him. The strength of the brigade at the close of the year was 33 permanent employees of all ranks, with 13 partiallypaid auxiliaries, making a total of 48. whilst the number of theatre service auxiliaries was 12. The reports were received and adopted.

44 0 18 10 4 2 06 76 37 102 14 18. — 247 2 ■ — — — — 31 6 38 3 1 6 — — — B —— — . — 125 ■17 126 33 22 31 7 390

Year.- No. of fires. Calls. Loss by fire. lous-oa .. 56 94 £ 6,504 1909-10 .. 60 127 15,344 1010-11 75 128 30,987 1911-12 ,. 52 91 22,782 1912-13 .. 76 134 17,441 1913-14 .. 84 149 13,810 1914-15 .. 80 167 29,284 1915-10 ,. .72 173 14,464 1916-17 ., 106 204 15,985 1917-18 .. 79 102 51,798 1918-19 .. 07 142 9,206 1919-20 .. 77 239 7,636 1920-21 .. 81 213 30,150 1921-22 ., 63 184 18,442 1922-23 .. ■ 69 ■ ■ 190 15,883 1923-24 ., 118 343 23,303 1924-25 .. 105 235 7,674 1926-26 .. 134 298 59,631 1926-27 .. 140 370 59,600 1927-28 .. 114 279 23,030 1928-29 .. 163 489 42,807 1929-30' .. 126 390 23,834 Details of insurance are as follows:— Year. Insurance. Insurance at Risk. Loss. 1917-18 £109,665 £40,635 1918-19 ,, 162,900 5,739 1919-20 299,018 6,173 1920-21 , ,• 186,593 34,132 1921-22 218,768 15,196 1922-23 „ * 93,764 15,113 1923-24 ,. 158,313 21,094 1924-25 202,170 7,242 1925-26 485,994 56,806 1926-27 014,039 59,188 1927-28 242,057 22,126 1928-29 407,852 41,556 1929-30 371,670 22,975