4+9
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replacement of semi-obsolete appliances, of which there are now only two, and that financial authority has been received for the retention of these in manned reserve, when their replacements arrive early next
year.
Ancillary equipment is of the most modern type. We consider that the public has every right to feel confident that its Fire Brigade is equipped to meet all normal fire risks.
93. The Brigade possesses two 100' turntable escape ladders, such as were used for the rescue of inhabitants from the tenements involved in
the Fire, one in Hong Kong and one in Kowloon. The utility of such equipment for fighting fires was shown at a recent small fire on the roof of a tall building in the centre of the city. It is possible too that additional equipment of this type night have been of value at the Wing On Fire, but we are unable to make a mure positive statement than this. In view of the marked tendency to circunvent the shortage of building space by constructing tall buildings, we consider that there are grounds for increasing the number of appliances of this type, either additional to or in replacement of present equipment.
Personnel Strength of the Fire Brigade:
94.
Evidence was given before the Commission of the exhaustion which overcame a number of firemen during the Wing On Fire, and we were much concerned with this, Without the assistance of reinforcements from the
Police, which implied removing constables from their ordinary duties, it is very doubtful whether fhe Fire Brigade shift that came on duty at nine o'clock on the morning of the fire, that is to say one hour after its commencement, could have carried out its duties till the same
hour next morning. We understand that the first shift was recalled
earlier, and did in fact resume duty at about midnight, when the second shift had been on duty for fifteen hours.
95. The Fire Brigade in 1940 employed a system whereby firemen were on duty for 5 days, followed by one day off. Absenteeism was frequent.
The fire-fighting strength up to and including sub-officers was approxi- mately 200. In 1946 the staff was considerably increased to allow a 24-hour on and 24-hour off system to be introduced.
This was welcomed
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