HOW FIRES START

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 13 June 1923, Page 15

HOW FIRES START

NEED FOR CARE WITH MATCHES The report for the year 1922-23 of the superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade (Mr H. Tait), shows that out of a total of 120 actual fires 12 originated through lighted matches being thrown down. Seventeen outbreaks were of unknown origin, but a lengthy list is given of fires which were due to different causes, some of which were strangely unusual. In eight cases the brigade was summoned to extinguish fires caused through children playing with matches, and in two others through children setting off fireworks. Defective chimneys and fireplaces were responsible for 13 outbreaks, and the ignition of gas, shavings. benzine, and other inflammable materials for 15 fires. Five alarms were given as a result of hot ashes being left exposed, a similar number through the burning of gor«e, and seven through sparks. Contact of lighted candles with bedding, curtains, and scrim accounted for seven calls, and mice and rats were held accountable for two outbreaks. The most unusual cause shown by the superintendent in his report was the shining of the concentrated rays of the sun through a pair of spectacles. Other causes were:—Back-firing through carburrettor, 1 ; explosion of spirit lamp, 1 ; heat from smelting furnace. 1; overheating electric irons, 3; overheating beeswax, gas caliphont, masseur machine, and tar,; 4; smoking in bed, 2; and spontaneous combustion, 2. There were two clear cases of incendiarism, and five of suspected incendiarism.