CITY’S FIRE PROTECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3898, 27 November 1928, Page 76

CITY’S FIRE PROTECTION.

OPERATIONS FOR PAST YEAR. FREEDOM FROM SERIOUS FIRES. The report and statement of accounts in connection with the working operations of the Dunedin Fire Brigade for the nine months ended on March 31 this year aws submitted to Tuesday’s meeting of the Fire Board. The annual meeting of the board having been held, the report and statement was adopted for circulation.

The report states that the capital amount of sinking fund on March 31. 1928, was £8932 8s 10d; as against £BlO7 2s 8d on June 30, 1927, the fund showing an increase for the year of £825 6s 2d. The capital amount of the special fund for the purchase of sites for out-stations for March 31, 1928, was £733 Os Bd, as against £7OO 12s 7d on June 30, 1927, the fund showing an increase for the year of £32 8s Id. The buildings and equipment of the central and out-stations were in good order. During the year the four-cylinder Leyland motor pumping plant arrived from London, and after passing satisfactory tests was taken, over by the board. This motor is stationed at Roslyn, where it is rendering excellent service. The employed staff was at full strength—3s permanent employees of all ranks, with 15 partially-paid auxiliaries, making a total strength of 50, whilst the number of theatre service auxiliaries was 11. Hie total loss by fire for the nine months amounted to £23,080, as against £59,600 for the previous year. The sum of £3065 19s 7d was paid as purchase of certain freehold properties in Castle street, required for the erection of the new central station. The number of calls received at brigade headquarters during the year under review were classified as follows: —

The highest loss involved in one separate fire was £5OOO. Three losses involved £2OOO each, one of £l5OO, three of £l6OO, and two of £750, while the loss involved in 74 fires was under £5O, and 10 ever £5O. The value involved in the fire where the loss amounted to £soo# was £20,000, and the value involved in 47 fires was under £250. The following is the comparative table of fires and losses in the city from 1908 to 1928:—

Superintendent A. G. Napier’s report states that owing to the brigade year being altered, there seemed to be no means of compiling a comparative table of the actual operations of the brigade for both this and next year’s reports. It was very pleasing to report that there had. been an exceptional freedom from serious fires and losses, and it was to be hoped that this would continue. The brigade s plant and all equipment was, in his opinion, adequate for requirements, but be had somewhat serious doubts as to the future of the water supply. He seriously believed that the city authorities were sailing somewhat close to the wind. The type of man in the brigade and his general efficiency was well up to the usual high standard.

Month. to GO s rt cn ’"2 "co g S <x ■q O s = _£2 Pm "S _o 1927—July . 18 5 14 9 46 August 9 1 6 10 26 Sept. . 11 7 6 10 34 October 12 4 8 3 27 Nov. . 12 3 6 7 29 Dec. 8 3 3 12 26 1928—January 15 0 1 4 20 Feb. * . . . 13 11 2 10 36 March 16 4 3 12 35 Total .. . 114 38 49 77 270

Number Loss by Year. of fires. Calls fires.i 1908-09 56 94 £6,504 1909-10 60 127 15,344 1910-11 • ■ 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 1915-16 72 173 14,464 1916-17 106 204 15,985 1917-18 79 162 51,798 1918-19 67 142 9,206 1919-20 77 239 7,636 1920-21 • » 81 213 39,150 1921-22 • « 63 184 18,442 1922-23 • ■ 69 190 ’ 15,883 1923-24 118 343 23,303 1924-25 105 235 7,674 1925-26 134 298 59,631 1926-27 146 . 370 59,600 1927-28 114 279 23,080