FIRE BRIGADES, &c.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1407, 21 February 1860, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES, &c.

As the subject of fires, and tlie efforts necessary to prevent their spreading and to extinguish them, have lately been frequently and painfully pressed upon tublic attention, we very willingly give insertion to the following practical suggestions which have evidently been prepared by some one in England well acquainted with the matter, and which have been handed to us in the hope that their publication may be of service to the community in the way of stimulating and guiding the efforts that are now being made towards the formation of an efficient fire-brigade for this tow. One thing will be apparent on the most cursory perusal — the necessity that is felt for that careful attention to details which alone can ensure that the right thing shall be done at the right time. Everyone who has witnessed the outbreak of fire here, has seen how cordially and earnestly all have combined to do the very best they could, but ' for want of preparation and concert, time and labor alike we^fwasted. If certain persons had charge of bringing and working the engines, others of bringing and : raising ladders, others of handing water,

&c, all would be done, and done effectively because without confusion, and time would be saved when it is all imjportant, viz., in the early stages of a , conflagration. j Particular attention is also called to 1 the "methods of saving life. A.l though the houses here are generally comparatively small and low, yet all must have noticed how inconvenient nviny of tho staircases are. We therefore earnestly press upon all persons— especially those who sleep in upper rooms, the necessity of carefully considering how they may escape supposing the staircase to be on | fire, As a rule, fire draws up a flight jof stairs, and hence escape by that way soon becomes impracticable, and persons should then be prepared to avail themselves of some window or outlet, the practicability of escaping by which they had previously observed, although the opportunity for discovering this would be quite impossible amid the bewildering consciousness of danger. Let person? but take these simple yet necessary precautions, and then we may hope that though fires will occasionally happen, yet that we shall never have the painful task of recording the loss of human life in any such calamity.