| MARINE DETAC
SALARY
for this type of training is on the increase and should be encouraged, because it is really the 'jumping off point' of fire prevention for the younger generation.
58. Senior officers of the Department have given lectures to students in the Faculty of Architecture, Hong Kong University, and to Police officers undertaking advanced courses at the Police Training School.
59. In general, whilst training in the Service during the past year has not kept pace with present day needs, advances have been made which, with the additional accommodation now available, can be im- proved upon during 1963-64.
FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICES OPERATIONS
IN GENERAL
60. The Services responded during the year under review to 61,941 calls at which 171 persons died, 588 were rescued and 791 injured. 1 officer and 1 fireman died, and 94 officers and men were injured at fires or arising from fire fighting operations. Direct financial loss was $6,416,000. A breakdown of the type of calls received is as follows:
Fires
Special Service Calls
Ambulance Calls:
(a) Accident and Sudden Illness (b) Hospital Removals
K
3,102
419
FY
25,138
33,282
The classification and supposed causes of fires are set out in Appen- dix III.
61. From time immemorial, the winter months have been accepted philosophically as Hong Kong's time of trial in the matter of fires. Statistics during the past few years have produced no evidence of additional causes being introduced at this time. This has during the recent fire season led to a closer examination of the factors involved, when charts have revealed that within 36 hours of a fall in humidity below 50% there is an immediate increase in the number of fires. Our analysis has so far only been rather elementary, and more detailed study is needed; nevertheless, sufficient evidence has been produced to justify further investigation, and the Department is in consultation with the University, which may well open up an invaluable avenue to containing Fire Service expenditure on manpower and appliances, which of neces- sity is at the present time directed primarily towards meeting the needs of the winter season and emergencies peculiar to Hong Kong.
11