FLYING SPARKS MENACE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1934, Page 9

FLYING SPARKS MENACE

NEW PLYMOUTH COMPLAINTS fire started at soap factory. FIRE BOARD SPECIALLY MEETS. REPRESENTATIONS TO MANAGER. According to correspondence tabled at a special meeting of the New Plymouth Fire Board yesterday, certain areas of New Plymouth are endangered constantly by falling sparks and cinders from passing railway engines. After considering a complaint from a manufacturing concern and agreeing that the. matter was a serious one, the board decided to forward the correspondence to the general manager of railways and to urge that immediate action be taken to eliminate the danger. The Fitzroy Soap Company complained to the board that sparks from passing engines were a constant menace to the safety of ■ its building, and that on September 6 a fire had been caused when sparks blowing under the eaves of the building had ignited boards in three places in a small loft. If it had not been for the fact that soda dust lay thickly over the wood, the fire would probably have spread and assumed serious proportions. An insurance agent whose company had covered the premises wrote corroborating the statement. Members of the board recalled that on a windy day recently, following dry weather, the brigade had received calls to two more or less serious grass fires, thought to have been caused by engine sparks, and that six other fires had occurred in the district, to which the brigade had not been called. The chairman, Mr. W. C. Weston, remarked that the matter was extremely serious, and one in which the whole town was interested. Many large buildings might well be affected. He agreed that urgent representations should be made to the department, as the danger would be substantially increased in summer. Another complaint considered by the board was that of Mr. E. V. Tingey, a householder at the top of Vivian Street, who stated that when the brigade had been called on Sunday to a hedge fire at his property the pressure of yater from the hose was very poor. Mr. F. Amoore suggested that the necessity of installing an additional main to give better pressure from Morley Street to Cutfield Road should be put before the Borough Council. It was decided to make necessary representations to bring the matter to the council’s attention. ... X The Fire Board’s letter on. the subject was considered by the Borough Council last night. The board said that the low pressure was due to the water having to be taken so far up the hill from the nearest plug at the corner of Morley and Vivian Streets. It was suggested that a four-inch main should be laid from Morley Street to Cutfield Street, via the Vivian Street hill. Cr. F. Amoore, a member of the board, said the matter was of some importance. Several large houses on the hill were served by a small pipe only, either one inch or three-quarters of an inch in.diameter. In the event of a fire in one of the houses the result might be serious. . On the motion of Cr. P. E. Stainton, seconded by Cr. Amoore, the board’s letter was referred to the works committee.