FIRE PREVENTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 13

FIRE PREVENTION.

SUPERINTENDENT NAPIER’S REPORT. At tlio 1110011115 of the Dunedin Fire Board on Monday afternoon the Chairman (Mr T. Chalmcr) stated that owing to the energy of the secretary (Mr J. T. Hamann) and the superintendent (Mr A. O. Napier) he was able to lay before them the report and statement of accounts for the year ended June 30. Several other members of the board also expressed pleasure and surprise at having these reports before them so soon. The Superintendent’s report reads as follows:—“The number of calis to fires or supposed fires has been 154, being an increase of 43 as compared with the previous year. No serious outbreak lias occurred, the largest individual loss being £5220, although on several occasions city blocks were seriously menaced. FIRES AND BOSSES. In the following comparative table appear some interesting figures relative to fires and losses by the same: —

1912-13—Insurance- on property at risk, £2lO 632. Loss to insurance companies, £17,173. WATER SUPPLY. The capacity of the three reservoirs from which fiie city water supply was drawn was 75,500,000 gallons. The Ross Creek supply was 422 ft shove sea level, the Southern reservoir 471 ft above sea level, and the Maori Hill reservoir 531 ft above sea level. In addition to the above the Sullivan service flam, with a capacity of 20.000,000 gallons, was in course of construction. A 9in by-pass had been laid at Maori Hill reservoir making it possible to turn the high pressure direct from the Leitli-Waitati intake into the low-pressure mains which supply the high levels of the city, thus giving a more effective supply for fire purposes. CAUSES OF FIRES. A summary of the causes of the fires that occurred during the year shows that they originated as follows: —From birds’ nests, 1; boys playing with matches, 1; bush and rubbish, causes unknown, 7; careless smoker, 2; defective chimney. 3; defective hearth, 2; drying clothes at fire. 2; fusing of electric wires, 1; gas explosion, 1; gas jet, 1; gas heater, 1; heat from stove pipe, 1; hot ashes, 6; lighted candle, 8; light thrown down, 9; overheated bearing, 1; overheating of straw, 1; overheating of woodwork. 3; painters’ burning-off lamp, 2; petrol fumes 1; Primus stove. 1; set aligbt by drunken man. 1; sparks from copper, 2; sparks from chimney, 5; sparks from grate, 5; unknown, 20.

GENERAL. Tho total expenditure during the year, both capital and recurrent, was £6229 8a Id, and as the total revenue had been £7023 17s lid, til is left a credit balance of £794 9s lOd on the year’s work. As there had been a credit balance of £1035 3s 9d at the commencement of the year, this gave a total amount of £1829 13s 7d in credit. The credit balance ia being used iu the installation of the new street fire alarm system now being erected, and estimated to cost not £1625, and in paying for the fire brigade plant, the property of the late Roslyn Borough Council, taken over by this board. The strength of the brigade—exclusive of men employed on theatre duty—remains at that of last year, 28, made up as follows: —■ Superintendent, deputy superintendent, foro man, motor mechanic, 15 firemen, 9 auxiliary firemen—total, 28. There are also nine theatre service firemen. The volunteer brigades at South Dunedin and Caversham aro each at full strength. The thanks of the board conveyed to them for good services voluntarily rendered during the year.

Year. No. of i'ires. Calls. Loss bv Fire*. 1908-09 . , 56 94 ... £ 6,504 1909-10 ... 60 127 15,344 1910-11 ... 75 128 50,987 1911-12 ... 52 91 22.782 1912-13 76 134 17,441