Fires and Fire Brigades

Southland Times, Issue 13285, 12 August 1895, Page 3

Fires and Fire Brigades

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —I have read your leader on fire prevention with much astonishment and the inaccuracies and misstatements it contains compel me to ask permission to correct them. Quinn’s fire you state “what water there was, instead o'f being turned upon the burning mass inside, was directed on to the roof.” Such was not the case as the first lead and branch was taken by myself| into the building and was brought to play into the very heart of the fire before the bell ceased ringing. After giving directions to keep inside I went out to see about getting a branch to play on the back interior and saw to my astonishment a bystander was playing water on the Conon street front. I called the attention of the officer in charge to the waste of water; he being at the hydrant at the time, who told me to “mind my own business,” and as he was my superior officer I returned to my own men and branch, and stuck to it till, being overcome by the smoke and water, I was taken home in a cab. Proof of the fact that the water was applied to the centre of the fire was afterwards seen, as the only portion of the wooden building left was that portion where the fire originated. Again, you state, in reference to ringing up the waterworks, that “ this simple but most necessary precaution had, it was stated, been neglected or forgotten until too late.” Now the fact is that exCaptain Ross, at the Central Station, and engineer Harper, at the waterworks, were in telephonic communication as to the localty of the fire while the bell was ringing or immediately after. Now, about the South School fire : You allude to imperfect organisation. This is to some extent true, but where does the blame lie ? What are the facts! It was no “merest chance” that the building was not totally destroyed. The flames were coming through the roof of the south west gable before the reel arrived, and the Central bell bad not commenced ringing. The fire was extinguished simply by hard work and good judgment and the brigades ought to be congratulated on the result, seeing that the fire was confined to the wing of the building, and even to the room in which it commenced. From another point of view, it certainly was a wonder that the building was not consumed, through the scarcity of water, which no amount of organisation on the part of the Southern brigade, could have remedied. The Council have refused to connect us with the telephone, and also to supply a suitable bell, though these have been asked for many times. “ The blunder which skilled firemen should not make ” to wit “ the coupling on of lengths of hose greater than was required,” was not made. What did occur was that a connection was made and the water turned on, when one of the couplings blew out. This fault, together with the leaking hose, the firemen cannot be blamed for,as the hose is kept in repair (?) by the foreman of works, Mr Cheyne, in fact, is under his charge (unless at a fire) by orders of the Council, so that on returning from a fire it is his duty to test, wash, repair, dry, and pack the hose ready for the next call. I could say a great deal more on your following subjects, but would simply refer you to the report on the personnel and plant of the fire department I sent to the Council some four years ago, which was printed in full, and for which I received a hearty vote of thanks from the Council.—l am, &0., Jas. Stewart, Captain 8.V.F.8.