FIRES IN HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19463, 31 December 1934, Page 6

FIRES IN HAMILTON.

MANY GORSE AND GRASS FEWER PROPERTY OUTBREAKS. BRIGADE’S WORK UNDER REVIEW. A decrease in the number of fires involving actual property, as compared with the 1933 figures, was recorded in Hamilton this year. In all 'the Hamilton Fire Brigade attended 18 property fires, as against 24 last year, the most serious being the outbreak which destroyed the roof of the Frankton railway engine sheds, on December 24. Probably due to the continued dry spell in the closing months of the year, there has been a big increase in the number of grass and gorse tired which required the brigade’s attention. On 34 occasions the brigade turned out to suppress these outbreaks this year, but in 1933 there were only 11 fires of this nature requiring the brigade’s services. There have been the usual chimney fires, nine calls to these outbreaks being received, while four false alarms, one of whicli was malicious, were given. • The following table shows a comparison of the calls answered by the brigade over the past three years:

Efficiency of Brigade. The efficiency of the brigade has been well maintained during the year, a fact which was reflected in the comparatively small fire losses in the borough. Under .Superintendent A. Craig regular training has been carried out, and the men have reoeived instruction in -the latest flre-flghting methods.

An important event was the annual conference of the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand, which was held in Hamilton in March and attended .by delegates from all parts of the Dominion. This was the first occasion upon which this pig conference was held in Hamilton, and such was the hospitality extended to the delegates that many expressed the view-that the town would be made the venue again for a future, conference.

1932 1933 1934 Property .... 33 24 18 Chimney .... 10 15 9 Grass & Gonse 36 11 False Alarms . 6 * 2 4 Total .... •85 52 65