FIRE LOSSES

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1929, Page 14

FIRE LOSSES

EFFECT OF LATE ALARMS.

Wellington, July 20.

The question of making compulsory installation of automatic fire alarms in all leading warehouses, business establishments°and factories where there is a high property value at risk was submitted to the’ Wellington Five Board yesterday by Superintendent J. Creekc in a report. The superintendent stated the increasing fire loss in the Dominion; if not directly attributable to, was certainly aggrandised by, a number of large fires to°which the brigades had received late calls. To extinguish a fire which had reached large proportions was well nigh impossible, and the efforts of the brigade were directed to confining the outbreak within the affected area, which meant that much attention must be given to protecting adjoining and surrounding property. By making compulsory the installing of automatic fire alarms in all leading warehouses, business establishments and factories where there was a high property value at risk, the board would ensure’ that the danger of a fire spreading to a conflagration would be reduced to a minimum by reason of the fact. that the brigade would receive a timely warning. It was a good investment, as the insurance companies reduced the premiums, which in time helped to pay off the cost of the installation. Fire records proved that buildings so protected were free from serious loss by fi£e. Mr. M. F. Luckie agreed that the recommendation was an excellent one, and one which he thought would be favourably considered by the City Council. Ten minutes at the ’beginning of a fire was better than five hours afterwards. A copy of the report is to be forwarded to the City Council.