The presence of a large number of lumber yards, particularly inthe western" extra-Seltlement district, created n fire hazard) which gave rise to considerable anxiety. These yards nine into existence within" a very short the, usually, in close proximity to. good-class residential properties, and the situation rapidly became serious, with this Department handi capped through the Tack of local reulations governing. their establish ment and operation. The hazard soon became so rear' that it neces-tated the drafting of a sot of pro= vinlonal regulations. with a view to Indweing owners to. conform to certain safeguards, which included the slacking, of lumber in close oF solid formation, as opposed to the open drying formation, the limitation at the size and height of stacks and restrictions a8 0 their proximity. to neighbouring property, These reulations were applied with reason fable success, and it might Interest to mention that they were the "subject of favourable comment the National Fire Protection Asso-elation of Amer Complaints yextrding fire hazards continued to be received. in ever= rowing numbers, and many of these Teel to the demolition of serious tire risks or the removal of hazardous trades to other localities where the risks could be minimized, Ty all, 25 eompluinty were received id me of was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and. another to 50 days" detention, while another was. fined '$15; Inthe other ease a sentence of 14 months' imprisonment was squash-appeal. The four fires in respect' of which these prosecutions were made accounted for the death of 18 persons and injury to 10 others.
TraMe and Accidents—Trame congestion is still acute and, on certain Foods where conditions are exception ally bad, it retards the progress of Brigade vehicles responding to fire and other emergency calls. The Police, however, assist the Brigade in every way possible, and the drivers of other vehicles, on the whole, show consideration ant do their utmost to prevent obstructions; consequently, there is remarkably little cause for complaint considering the conditions prevailing.
Brigade vehicles were involved in a -number of accidents during the year, but fortunately none of these was of a serious nature, 'Arson and Incendiarism.—Arson and incendiarism were unusually—prevalent during the year. Aman was charged with attempted arson and Sentenced to 33% years' imprisonment, but this was the only" prosecution owing to the fact that other cases of suspected arson lacked sufficient evidence to warrant Police Court proceedings.
'There' were numerous eases of incendiarism, but In each instance either the guilty. person was not Drehended or insufficient evidence made it Impossible for a charge to preferred.
Volunteer Reserve.—The Volunteer Reserve was reorganized for the Primary purposes of establishing the Status of the members serving in the Emergency Ambulance and Trans~ port Section, which was formed dur-Ing the 1997 hostilities, in order to combine the Regular (Fire-fighting) Reserve with that Section.
new Constitution and revised Regulations for the Unit were a proved, and almost without exception the members of the 1937 Ambulance and Transport Section re-enrolled for service under the new scheme.
Rescue Squad.—Training of person-nol in oxygen breathing apparatus ind the special reserve appliances with which the Rescue Van is equipped was Intensified, nine emeers and 20 firemen, in addition to the regular Rescue Squad, being passed as eficient, Responding to 28 calls, an increase of nine on 1938, the Rescue Squad performed very efficient work in the handling of gas leaks and electrical eeidents, the extrication of perser trapped "under heavy vehicles, etc. apart. from rendering very. valuable service at numerous fires where attention of a to breaches of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.