HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY.
23. Fire hydrants have been inspected quarterly and all defects reported to the Water Authority for repairs to be effected.
24. The total number of hydrants is now 482 pedestal and 1,142 ground, an addition to last year of 22 pedestal and 11 ground which have been newly installed.
25. Water restrictions during the year have caused little incon- venience to the Brigade. Arrangements made with the Water Authority for the provision of turncocks during the restriction hours have proved satisfactory.
26. Static water tanks of various capacities ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 gallons have been constructed in advantageous positions on the island and mainland. These tanks are filled with sea-water where possible and will be utilized chiefly for water-relaying when water mains fail.
27. The sea-water main installation that existed before the war was rendered unserviceable during the Japanese occupation of the Colony. Owing to the great advantage of this installation authority has been granted for the system to be re-instated, The required equipment has been ordered and the work will be commenced when equipment is available.
FIRE RISK.
28. Although careful arrangements and fire-fighting plans have been made to combat squatter area fires, they still continue to give rise to anxiety in the Service. While referring to these areas, statistics show that danger also exists from landslides, in which many persons lost their lives as well as property.
29. Great risks also exist with regard to areas where the distance between houses and the width of streets do not constitute a sufficient fire break. An instance of this is recalled by the recent Tung Street fire where 7 buildings were involved on ali four corners of Tung Street and Lower Lascar Row. Buildings in areas such as this also provide difficul- ties to the Brigade in extinguishing fire owing to the impossibility of adequately surrounding the building or buildings involved with water jets and thus preventing a spread of fire. For the most part these conditions only exist on the Island.
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