REPORT BY THE CHIEF OFFICER HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE.
1. Cost of Fire Brigade.-The cost of the Fire Brigade for the year 1928 was $197,222.37 as compared with $190,350.27 in 1927 and $206,232.50 in 1926. Special Expenditure amounting to $12,768.74 is included.
2. Calls. The Brigade received 137 Calls in all, an increase of 29 on the Calls for 1927. The actual number of serious fires amounted in all to 12 as against 6 in 1927. The most serious fires were :
(1) The fire on the River Steamer "Sui Tai" which was lying at the Wing Lok Wharf. The whole upper works of the Steamer were gutted but the hull and Engines saved. This ship has been reconstructed and is again on the run. I am satisfied that had it not been for the splendid work of the newly acquired Fire Float it would have been impossible to save this ship which is of wood construction,
(2) The fire at No. 20 Upper Station Street when 5 persons were burnt to death before the arrival of the Brigade. A somewhat late call was received and on arrival of the Brigade not only the premises in which the fire had originated but the premises opposite were fully alight,
3. Loss of Life.-The attention of Government has been drawn to the very flimsy construction of many of the overcrowded tenement houses in the Colony and it would appear that the time has arrived for insisting on fireproof material only being used in the construction of these tenement houses, many of which have only one common Staircase for two separate houses of from 3 to 4 stories. Even if fireproof material for the staircase and 1st floor was insisted on there would be little likelihood of persons being burnt to death in these houses. In most cases the ground floor is a shop, in the case of No. 20 Upper Station Street it was a Joss Paper shop full of inflammable matter which if once set alight converts the shop into a roaring furnace in a few moments. Unless therefore the inmates can escape by the roof which is not always possible they have no means of escape once the ground floor is alight. In all 10 persons lost their lives, 5 of whom were burnt to death in the fire in Upper Station Street. At the fire in Lai Chi Kok Road on 13th April, 1928, 2 persons were rescued by firemen from the burning building.