FALSE ALARMS AND FIRE PRECAUTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17246, 12 January 1924, Page 8

FALSE ALARMS AND FIRE PRECAUTIONS.

Correspondents of “ The Star ” have beeii writing kind and unkind things about Canterbury's weather, but it is obvious from the reports that come from all other parts of New Zealand, and even from across the Tasman, that a very large zone is enjoying an unusually hot, dry spell at present. Therefore, comparisons are misleading if they are based on tire weather Christchurch has been having since early in December. One thing that is certain, however, is that there is still a month or two of very dry weather ahead, and it is well to leave “ silly season ” subjects for a moment to emphasise the need for strict fire precautions in the city. In one day last w eek there were two fires of a magnitude happily very rare in New Zealand. In both cases, although there was hardly a breath of wind to fan the flames, the dry weather conspired to render the fire brigade practically powerless. A point worth bearing in mind is that false alarms have increased fourfold in tire past month, and there is always the danger that a real fire may occur while the brigade’s attention is partly taken up in another direction. The circumstances call for special precautions by all householders, particularly on the unwelcome washing days, which provide the fire brigade with its staple crop of turn-outs for incipient fires. And those who go abroad should be very careful not to light grass fires, since very extensive damage might result.