FIRE LOSS IN 16 YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 23826, 25 May 1939, Page 8

FIRE LOSS IN 16 YEARS

REVIEW OF POSITION SINCE 1923 TOTAL OF £207,312 LOST IN INVERCARGILL The total fire loss in Invercargill since the inception of the Invercargill Fire Board in 1923 has been £207,312. This information was contained in the annual report of the superintendent (Mr F. S. Simpson) presented at a meeting of the Fire Board yesterday. The loss for the last year of the board’s operation, up till March 31, was £5927. Since 1923 1548 calls have been answered by the fire brigade and the fire loss in the 669 actual fires that have occurred has been £207,312. The total estimated value of buildings and so on, in which fires have occurred is £2,520,333 and the insured value of these has been £1,754,588. It was pointed out by members of the hoard that the loss of £207,312 was fairly small when compared with the estimated value of £2,520,333. The biggest loss recorded in .one year was in the 1923-24 year when £46,505 was lost. On only four occasions since 1923. has the yearly loss been less than it was last year. Other heavy losses that have occured have been: £19,698 in 1C24-25, £18,652 in 1936-37, £17,740 in 1925-26, £16,348 in 1930 31, £15,900 in 1927-28, £13,009 in '1928-29, £12,572 in 1937-38, £10,823 in 1934-35. CALLS IN 16 YEARS Since the formation of the board 1548 calls have been answered by the brigade. This information was included in the annual report of the superintendent. Of the total- number of calls answered, 699 were to actual fires, 255 were to hedge, refuse or gorse fires, 379 were to chimney fires, 166 were accidental or justifiable false alarms and 79 v were malicious false alarms. During the 1938-39 year of the board’s operation, 111 calls were answered. This number compares very satisfactorily with the numbers of calls received in other years. The chairman (Mr W. G. Tait) remarked that the fire position in Invercargill was very satisfactory and members of the board supported him In this. jMr R. R. Binney said that the district was to be congratulated on the small fire loss.. He said that the'‘promptness with which the brigade had answered the calls was one of the main factors in . the satisfactory position. The biggest number of calls answered in one year since the board’s inception was 138 in 1937-38. Other outstanding years were 1924-25, 119 calls; 1935-36, 118 calls; 1930-31, 117 calls; 1933-34, 109 calls; 1934-35, 104 calls.