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CASUALTIES.
2. A total of 44 persons lost their lives at fires and 46 were injured. 33 people were killed and 62 injured in house collapses. Fire Brigade personnel were instrumental in rescuing 29 persons from fires and extricating alive 73 people from collapsed buildings. In all cases of injury, the patients were removed to hospital by Fire Brigade Ambulances.
3. There were no Fire Brigade casualties of a serious nature.
STAFF.
4. There have been no major staff changes during the year. Strength in all grades has been maintained almost at approved establishment. There has been no difficulty in recruitment to fill the vacancies which have occurred with the exception of Motor Drivers who were in great demand generally.
5. At a presentation of Honours held by His Excellency the Governor on 30th December, 1947, Divisional Officer R. É. J. Brooks and Station Officer C. W. Browne were presented with the King's Police & Fire Services Medal for gallantry in jointly saving 25 lives on the occasion of the "Sai Ön" fire.
FIRE ENGINES AND PLANT.
6. All fire engines and plant have been maintained in first class condition by our own staff. Work is well advanced in converting the fire engines from their war-time grey colour to the normal fire engine red. A complete new cylinder block has been fitted to No. 3 motor pump which was severely damaged in 1945.
7. All escapes, ladders and other equipment have been periodically tested and examined during the year.
FIRE STATIONS.
8. All city and rural fire stations are fully manned and equipped. New stations at Sai Kung and Sheung Shui were opened and equipped during the year to provide adequate fire protection for these fairly large and remote villages. It is worthy of note that since their inception, these stations have effectively dealt with local minor outbreaks of fire thereby obviating the despatch on long journeys of fire engines from Kowloon Station.
HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY.
9. The water supply during the year has been most satisfactory. Twenty additional pedestal hydrants have been installed in selected positions. The 408 pedestal and 1,110 ground hydrants were periodically tested by the Brigade and, where necessary, repairs were carried out by the Public Works Department.