"A GOOD SAVE"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16869, 5 February 1929, Page 7

"A GOOD SAVE"

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BYSTANDER AND INSPECTOR' (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this clay. Replying to a complaint by a bystander regarding the File Brigade's methods at a recent fire in large house at Remuera, Superintendent Wilson said: "The modern practice, and the best practice, is to yet inside the building to wliere the firemen can see what they arc doing. The policy is to fight the fire scientifically, not to cause damage, but to minimise it. 1 admit that this robs (lie fight of some of its. spectacular'aspects, but our iob is not to provide thiills, but to put the fire out with all possible speed, and the least possible damage." "That fire was described as a good save, but I fail to see how that can ne claimed,"' said rhe complaining bystander. "The fire was in the roof, and had the firemen cut a bole there and played the water clown on to the flames the* loss would have been only a quarter of what is was. 7 ' '"I saw that fire, and so did Inspector Hugo, inspector of fire brigades in NewZealand, and we both agreed that the men went about their work in a proper manner and did effect a very good save," Superintendent Wilson said. "To make that fire a really good blaze, and perhaps cause the destruction of the whole of the building and its contents. all it wanted was a draught, and that would have been provided by cutting a hole in tho roof."