Jan. 3.
A summary of the annual report of the Fire Brigade which has just been issued gives. a very complete idea of the activities of this very important department, and it is more than pleasurable that it affords an opportunity to refer to the excellent work of a body of men, whose Jabours are not always confined to the spectacular work of fighting fires. In that one branch of the Brigade's activities a new record has been reached, and with total of 1,036 fires sind. special calls, the high figure' of 1934,—1,000,—has been' passed. The summary does not state the value of the property involved in the fires the Brigade dealt with, but does point Jout that the total loss by conflagration [amounted to $2,000,123, a decrease of.$9.- 679,597 as compared with 1937, when the huge total of over $11,000,000 was due to
is above that of normal years, attributable, to several exceptionally extensive fires in the Yangtszepoo area, where conditions, owing to the occupation of the Japanese military, and particularly with regard to communications were abnormal, and pre~ sented additional difficulties to the Brigade as they sought to go about their work, Statistics concerning fire fighting are al~ ways interesting, chiefly it is to. be supposed because of the manner of their pre~ sentation. For example those firemen who are so often seen running out hose last year did s0 to the tune of 413,278 fect, or 78 miles, 479 yards, and 1 foot. It follows that less than 413,278 fect of hose had also to be rolled up which is a comforting re~ flection. Over twenty million imperial gallons of water were used in the extinc~ tion of fires, ten millions being used on two fires at the O.S.K. and N-V.K. fires alone. Why the unit' more suitable to the wine and spirit merchants' trade is used, instead of the impersonal cubic feet, is by no means clear, though the ordinary devotee of some~ what! stronger liquids will readily concede that quite a lot of water was used.
The compiler of the report appears to see something significant in the nationality of the tenants of premises to which the brigade was called during the year. Chinese numbered 743, British 58, Japanese 49, American 32, other nationalities 35, while unclassified numbered 139, It is by no means clear what deduction is {0 be drawn from these figures, for it was naturally to be expected that the Chinese would easily score first honours, though the figures given for other nationalities might, in some very abstruse way, be held to prove that there is some relation ship between nationality and carelessness with matches. In addition to well over 1,000 calls upon the fire section of the brigade, there were 107 special calls, the ambulance. section dealt with no fewer than 15,619 cases, not including the many times when the ambulances were used for re~ moval of patients from refugee hospitals to newly established hospitals, and other hose pital evacuations. The growth of this portion of the Brigade's activities has been phenomenal, In eight years, from 1931 to 1938 inclusive the calls have multiplied ten= fold, from 870 in the former year to 8,876 in the latter. The highest number of calls in any one day upon the ambulance service was 85, but the figures generally prove that the institution of this service had proved of inestimable benefit, and thoroughly to have justified itself. passant it might be remarked that observers have been deeply impressed by the rapidity with which the brigade answers these calls, and it is generally only a very few minutes between the making of the call and the arrival of the ambulance on the spot. The service is most efficient. But to go back to statistics; all street hydrants were regularly inspected and tested, the total amounting to 28,208, fire prevention led to no fewer than 6,762 inspections, and the writing of 1,514 letters, while stationary fire pumps' in various buildings to the number of 105 re~ ceived the usual monthly attention, In the Settlement there are 1,575 buildings with fire installations requiring periodical inspec~ tion, and when all these figures are taken into' consideration it is apparent that actual fixe fighting is considerably reduced by the unobtrusive preventive work which the Brigade is continually performing, 'A particularly agreeable note is contained. {in the report on the subject of traffic and accidents. It is stated 'Traille congestion is still scute, particularly the dovnetown districts during' the busier hours, but with the assistance of the Police, and the consideration shown by the majority of drivers of other vehicles, there is, consider~ ing the conditions prevailing, remarkably few: cases of fire engines or ambulances being obstructed or delayed in responding to calls. Brigade" machines, cars, ambulances, ete., were involved. in a number of accidents, but all of these) were, fortunately, of 2) minor This tribute from the Fire Brigade to the Police is more than welcome, for so many critics fail at times to understand the really difficult conditions under which the Police have to control tref, But the Fire Brigade is probably best in a position to judge the efficiency of their fellow muni pal servants, because of the ever present desire for speed in their comings and oings, and the fact that that speed is obtainable with a minimum of risk all round is the best indication of the good work of the Traflic Department. The whole summary is a testimony not only to those at present in control of the Brigade, but also their predecessors who planned the Fire., brigade on tines best adapted to the peculiar needs of this city. It does not refer to the recent matshed fires In the western area, because they did not occur in the year unde review, but this year's report will be awaited with interest, for, while the Brigade has had to handle similar outbreaks in the past, there is a danger that this part of their work will be found to have considerably increased. It is to be hoped that this will not prove to be the, ease, but it is a pos~ sibility which cannot be' overlooked, and with it the danger to foreign dwellings in the vicinity of which these matshed structures are now being too frequently erected.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.