BRIGADE DELAYED IN TURNING OUT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19201, 15 October 1930, Page 14

BRIGADE DELAYED IN TURNING OUT.

COMPLAINT MADE BY INSURANCE COMPANY.

The Christchurch Fire at its meeting last night received a complaint from the London and Lancashire Insurance Company that, as a result of a delayed turn-out by the City Brigade to a motor-car fire, the company had been put to a considerable loss. The letter stated that two calls were made to the brigade at an interval of a quarter of an hour, and that, as a result of the delay, the motor-car, which was insured for £275, was a total loss. It was considered that if the brigade had responded to the first call the damage to the car would not have been so great. Reporting on this matter, Superintendent Warner stated:—“At about 11.50 p.m. on September 0 a call was received by telephone at headquarters station to a motor-car on fire in Straven Road, Fendalton, and I regret that, owing to the watchhouse endeavouring to verify the message, some slight delay occurred, whereby the brigade motors did not turn out until 12.2 a m., or some twelve minutes later. The reason for issuing instructions to members of the brigade to verify calls of this nature is due to the large number of malicious alarms previously received for supposed motor-car fires, which has undoubtedly been the means of much wear and tear on the appliances in turning out the machines unnecessarily. From the report given me verbally by the deputy-superinten-dent, and from my own experience of motor-car fires, where the brigade motors have to travel two or more miles, I am of opinion that there is very little chance of saving any motor after once the fire has obtained a firm hold, which no doubt would have happened by the time the brigade arrived, as in this particular instance.” It was decided that a suggestion be made to the superintendent that unless there is direct evidence to show a malicious false alarm, the brigade should be despatched in answer to the call immediately.