because, some time after the rescue of the first two men, the dredger suddenly sank. The bodies of the missing workmen were later recovered by the Marine Police near the waterfront, North Point.
FALSE ALARMS
4. There were 59 malicious alarms and 61 given with good intention. Action is always taken by the Police to apprehend those culprits who originate malicious false alarms.
CAUSES OF FIRES
5. The careless handling and negligent use of inflammable liquids were the most common causes of fires. Children playing with matches and the indiscriminate discarding of cigarette ends, also caused a large number of house fires. Many fires were traceable to the negligent use of electrical appliances, the cause generally being a short circuit due to unprotected and faulty wiring. Poorly made kerosene stoves and their negligent handling when used for domestic purposes were also major causes of fires.
CASUALTIES
6. Details of casualties recorded as a result of fires and other causes are as follows:
Died
Injured
Fires
15
185
Landslides, Collapsed Buildings, Drowning & Other
Causes
84
241
7. No serious injuries occurred to Fire Services Department per- sonnel during the past year.
STAFF
8. The personnel of the Department was increased by 30 officers and 264 other ranks. The approved establishment of the Department on 31st March, 1961 was 1,180 officers and other ranks.
9. One vacancy for a divisional officer was filled locally by the promotion of a station officer.
10. Six vacancies for station officers were filled from overseas by new appointments made by the Crown Agents and seven vacancies were filled locally by the promotion of sub-officers.
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