FIRE PREVENTION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 8

FIRE PREVENTION.

Week of Demonstrations and Instruction. OPENING TO-DAY. Fire Prevention Week opened to-day and an indication of the importance of the movement was given this morning by Superintendent C. C. Warner, of the Christchurch Fire Brigade. He pointed out that the last Fire Prevention Week was held late in 1931. The fire loss that year was £1.292,094. In the following year the loss was £424,350 less, and this was a national saving. “ Surely that is something to strive for,” said Mr Warner. “ I attribute the pleasing result of 1932 to the man ner in which the public was educated on fire prevention in the previous year.” The staff of the Christchurch Fire Brigade has been preparing for f he week of demonstration for some time, and this morning, visits were paid to the Woolston and Phillipstown Schools. Three decorated engines and the electric ladder were taken by the demonstrating party. A short talk was given to the children by Foreman G. Barnes, who was in charge, and then demonstrations of alarms and the use of the equipment were made before the , interested children. Visits to Schools. This afternoon the Linwood Avenue and North Linwood Schools will be visited and demonstrations will be given at other schools as follows: To-morrow —Morning: Richmond and Shirley Schools; afternoon, Shirley Intermediate. Wednesday Morning; Waimairi Road and Fendalton; afternoon, St Albans and Elmwood Schools. Thursday—Morning: Opawa and Waltham Schools; afternoon, Sydenham and Beckenham. Friday—Morning, Somerfield and West Spreydon; afternoon, Addington and West Christchurch. The following schools will also be visited as circumstances permit:—East Christchurch, Normal, Girls’ High, Cathedral Grammar, St Andrew’s, Wharenui, St Mary’s, Marist Brothers and Spreydon. On their way to the schools the engines, placarded with original warning notices which attracted a great deal of attention, passed through the city. Firemen are also visiting business houses in the city distributing literature ‘of an educative type and asking that notices for the guidance of employees in fire emergency be placed near the telephones. To-night, at 7.30, Fire Prevention Week will be officially opened by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) at the Lichfield Street fire station. The chairman of the Christchurch Fire Board (Mr T. Charters) will also speak and the station will be thrown open for inspection by the public. Demonstrations will be given by the men. The station will be open for inspection on every evening during the week om 7 p.m., and the public will have the opportunity of seeing these highly trained men in alarm drills and other interesting exercises. On Wednesday evening there will be a water displav in Latimer Square at 7.30.