PREVENTATION OF FIRES

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1931, Page 12

PREVENTATION OF FIRES

HAWERA BOARD’S DISCUSSION. FAULTY CHIMNEYS OFTEN CAUSE. Any support it can give in the fire prevention week activities will be' given by the Hawera Fire Board. Yesterday the board received the circular of Mr. R. Girling Butcher, inspector of fire brigades. “The annual fire loss in New Zealand is tremendous," eaid Mr. L. A. Bone, the chairman. “Any steps that we can, should be taken.” Mr. G. J. Bayley: A lot of it is due to wooden buildings. Mr. K. C. Akers considered that the majority of fires seemed te> be _in the country, with faults in the chimneys. Another cause was when people put clothes over the hot-water cylinder and when the -water supply was not- high enough to keep the cylinder full. Mr. Bone inquired if there was anything the board could do. One step that, business men could take was to turn' off electricity and gas at the meter.' Mr. G; Duncan agreed that chimneys were the usual sources of fires. In over 30 years' experience 50 per cent, of the fires had been due to this cause. He urged inspection of chimneys during the building of houses. A resolution embodying this sugges-' tion was carried and will be forwarded to Mr. Butcher.