NEW ZEALAND FIRE BRIGADES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3004, 11 October 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FIRE BRIGADES.

ANNUAL REPORT. (Fbom Oub Own Cobrespohdent.) WELLINGTON, October 3. In the report- of the Inspector of Fire 'Brigades, presented to Parliament to-day, Mr Hugo states that, whilst recognising and giving every credit to the United Brigades' Association for the good work it has done in the past and is doing at present towards increasing the efficiency of the fire service of the Dominion, there is a direction in which considerable improvement could be effected, and that is in the method adopted in certain of the competitions hell at the biennial demon6trations> A number of these competitions are carried out in a special manner and with special appliances, and not, as they should be, with both work and gear approaching as nearly as is possible actual jservioe conditions. These demonstrations, which are most enthusiastically looked forward to by the members of the various brigades who go through a long course of bard training and practice, attaining a high degree of efficiency, include some competitions wherein the method adopted is quite at variance with the work as carried out in their brigades in actual practice at fires. A steady improvement is taking place in the discipline, drill, and method of work in the large majority of the brigades, and more attention is being paid to that part of ambulance work essential to fire brigade requirements. Considerable difficulty has been experienced by a number of the Fire Boards in obtaining money by way of a loan, due to the opinion obtaining amongst prospective lenders that the Fire Brigades Act in its present form does not provide for adeouate security, and as a consequence there has been and is considerable delay in obtaining very necessary equipment, and in the building of much-needed fire stations. There are installed throughout the fire districts a total number of 36 thermostat automatic fire alarms connected up to the fire stations. Of these '22 are in Dunedin. There are several patterns of these altomatic systems that have reached a high state of efficiency, and have been the means of saving an enormous amount of valuable property as the result of giving brigades timely Avarning of an outbreak of fire, and it is to be regretted that more of these safeguards are not installed in the large warehouses, department stores, etc. JDuring the year there has been a large reduction in the number of fires returned as due to incendiarism and unknown causes and.- in unoccupied houses. It is attributed to the more searching inquiry nqw being made by the superintendents of the various brigades as to the origin of the fires. The losses by fire last vear in cases where there was insurance" amounted to £103,697. Of this amount £75,708 was covered by insurance. The fire districts that have incurred the heaviest losses are: Dunedin, £30,987 j Maori Hill, £18,747. The insurance loss throughout the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1910, was £592,670. The total fire loss for the lafet seven years amounts to the large sum of £3,931,464. . "THE CRIMINAL MATCH."

New Zealand possesses -the very unenviable record of having the -largest fire loss per head of any country in the ■world. In his annual report the Inspector of Fire Brigades recommends an improvement in the .building regulations from a fire point of view. He also points out that over-insnrance is still prevalent, and quotes an advertisement from a local paper as follows.—" Boarding-house (the furniture is insured for £soo)^—Price for the lease and the whole of the furniture and effects, including upright grand piano, £220." One of the reasons for the excessive fire lose in New Zealand is no doubt the great use that is made of the wax match. " For years past," says Inspector Hugo, " I have pointed out the danger of fire caused by the wax match commonly in use. The striking immunity from fires for a long series of years in South Australia some time ago was attributed principally to the almost ex-

elusive use in the State during that time of the safety match, and Dr von Schwartz in his * Fire and Explosion Risks' states : ' Statistical reports show that in certain years 80 per cent, of the total outbreaks of fire were caused by matches either dropped or trodden on, thrown down whilst still glowing, or used as a plaything by children.' The following bearing on this subject is taken from the Australian Fireman : —'- Out of nea,rly 6000 fires in Chicago more than one-sixth were due to the careless use of the "criminal I match;" The campaign against the i latter, which is now assuming considerable | force and. proportions, will be pushed I vigorously until none but safety matches i can be obtained in the United States. | Even then burning matches carelessly thrown away after use will be responsible , for many fires. State Marshal Sullivan, of New Orleans, has issued an edict against the "criminal match" —that is, the ordinary friction match which can be ignited on any surface. He has announced that it must go, and be replaced wholly by the safety match. In Harrisburg (P.A.) a short time ago a. friction match dropped on the floor of a cellar was stepped upon, and resulted in a property loss of 300,00d01. Had this been a safety match .no fire would have occurred. In many European countries the I " criminal m'Mch " which ignites on anything is outlawed, and safety matches are required to be used exclusively.' " j DUNEDIN FIRE BRIGADE. ' Reporting upon the Dunedin Fire Brigade, the inspector writes : —" There has been a heavy fire loss in the Dunedin fire district during the past year, this mainly due to the tire that took place in the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society's buildings in Crawford street on the night of the 22nd December, 1910, and was responsible for • a loss approximating ! £20,000. Seventy-five fires have occurred in the Dunedin fire district during the past year, as against 63 for the previous year*—an increase of 12. The fire loss amounted to £30,987, compared with £15,344 —an increase of £15,643. The 1 estimated cost of the brigade for the year I 1911-12 is £6500, as against £6OOO for j 1910 11—an increase of £500." I 1910-11 —an increase of £500." Report- . ing upon his inspections the inspector ' writes :—" The various ' turn-outs ' were accomplished smartly, and the required drills carried out efficiently. The plant and appliances are maintained in good I order and condition. Arrangements have been made whereby a certain number of • the South Dunedin section of the brigade are now available when called upon to J assist at fires in the city proper, but durI ing the course of my inspection in TTebru- [ ary last I was informed by the ~superinl tendent that at the time he had only 11 j men available to man the appliances in ! answer to a first call in the city. This number of men is not sufficient, and as | the new central station will be ready for occupation shortly, better arrangements ; should be made immediately it is possible j to have a larger proportion of the total j strength of the brigade available for the j ' turn-out,' particularly to calls in the j more congested parts of the city." The following interim report was forwarded to the secretary of the Fire Board : —"With reference to matters discussed at the informal meeting with' the members of your board on the 14th inst., herewith i I beg to confirm my recommendations in j respect to that part dealing with future j policy to be carried out, as opportunity ! will allow, in the following order : (1) I Provision of a second motor of a similar j horse-power but lighter in equipment than the present- one; (2) provision of more street fire alarm call joints; (3) provision and equipment of sub - stations; (4) provision of a 70-75 ft ladder, electrically propelled and manipulated. As my reasons for the foregoing recommendations, with methods of carrying them out, . together with other matters in con- ; nection with the more efficient working of ' your brigade were fully discussed at the meeting, there is no necessity to write at length here. No main has yet been laid down in the southern portion of Cumberland street. In view of the large risks there this is an important matter, and the

City Council should be urged to place this work in hand at once. Although outside the jurisdiction of the Fire Board, seeing how materially a. disastrous fire on -the Harbour Board's property will affect the city, I would respectfully suggest to your board that some mutual arrangement should be made with the Harbour Board for the better protection of their property in case of fire." MILTON. In regard to Milton Mr Hugo reports :—"Seeing that the. question of a public water supply for Milton is no nearer a settlement, and the danger of a disastrous fire. taking place at any. moment due to the very limited supply of water available for fire extinction purposes, I would strongly recommend the advisability of sinking wells in the vicinity of some of 'the larger risks of your town. As jt is at present, the brigade has very little chance of stopping the spread of a fire should-they receive a late call to certain of the block risks."