4. There has been during the year a considerable increase in the number of chimney and electrical fires. The latter may be due to the heavy rains during the year.
5.
Miscellaneous fires include, for the most part, those fires involving chemicals and other such substances that cannot be placed in other categories.
6. Ship fires include all marine craft; during the year none of this category have been rated as serious, only minor fire damage being recorded.
CAUSES.
7. For the most part the cause of fires may be referred to as due to negligence or carelessness, especially with regard to oil, house, chimney, and to a certain extent miscellaneous fires. Fires involving paper decora- tions, fireworks, joss sticks and clothing; welding torches and soldering irons being used in close proximity to oil; acids and dangerous chemicals badly handled, these were to a large extent the main causes.
CASUALTIES.
8. A total of 20 persons lost their lives at fires before the arrival of the Fire Brigade and one person was reported missing, an increase of 1 over the number of last year. The Brigade rescued 11 persons from burning buildings.
9. Special services were rendered by the Brigade for house collapses, landslides, drowning, leakages of dangerous gases, etc. A total of 41 persons lost their lives in this category while 23 were rescued by the Brigade personnel. Loss of life is accounted for as follows:
Landslides:- Drowning:-
Explosion:----
House Collapses :---
30
7
3
1
41
STAFF.
10. For some considerable time the Brigade have been carrying on with a shortage of Fire Officers owing to the retirement of two expatriate officers i.e. Mechanical Engineer E. F. Brown and Station Officer C. C. Caynes. Mr. S. A. Dale, G.I. Fire E., and Mr. J. Milner, G.I. Fire E., were
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