FIRE RISKS IN WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 34

FIRE RISKS IN WELLINGTON.

BR 1G ADE SUPERINTEND ENT S REPORT. V ELLINGTON, August 26. The fire risk in the Cil of Wellington is exceedingly hazardous, probably more so than in any other city of its size in the British Emjiire, said Superintendent Creeke, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, in his annual report to the first annual meeting to the Wellington Fire Board.

Continuing, the Superintendent states that this is brought about by the enormous number of old wooden buildings in the city, and the extensive use of skritn and paper for the interior lining of the walls. These risks are increased by the topographical and geographical nature of the city suburbs.

For the year ended June 30 1927, the number of calls attended to was 633, an increase of 2SO on the previous year. The actual fires were 470 (an increase of 196), and the false alarms 163 (an increase of 86), of which 42 were maliciously given. The estimate 1 loss of property by fire was £109.556. The value of the properties on which fires occurred was £1,494,198, and the insurance on them was. £1,022,160. In ■~ , e fire the damage exceeded £lO,OOO. five exceeded £5OOO, and 25 exceeded £lOOO. In 90 pep cent, of the fires the walls of the building were covered with scrim and paper. Sixteen fires were due to benzine coming in close proximity to a light, 25 to the burning off of gorse, 10 to defective rhimuey hearths, 61 to foul chimneys, 245 to lighted matches thrown down, IS from sparks and 37 from unknown causes. In 1917-18 the number of fires was 147. in 1922-23 it was 24G, in 1925-26 it was 273, and 1926-27 it was 470.