K (1) 3
7. The numbers of both Pedestal and Underground hydrants were increased by 11 and 2 respectively during the year; the total number of hydrants is now 1,454 viz.:-
Pedestal hydrants:-
Hong Kong (including Peak) 193
Kowloon 151
Underground hydrants:-
Hong Kong (including Peak) 714
Kowloon (including New Territories) 396
Total 1,454
All were regularly inspected every quarter.
8. Two fatalities resulted from fire during the year, viz., a Chinese male, aged 20 years, who succumbed to burns received at a fire in an un-numbered hut in Lung Chau Tseng Village, Kowloon City, on the 10th April, and a Chinese workman, aged 18 years, who was suffocated at the fire which occurred on the S.S. "Recorder" in Taikoo Dock on the 11th November.
9. Eighteen persons lost their lives as a result of collapses and landslides. Nine of these deaths resulted from collapses caused by the typhoon on the 17th August.
10. Forty-five persons were extricated alive from the above collapses and landslides.
CALLS.
11. The number of calls received during the year totalled 192; actual fires 158, chimney fires 12, collapses 7, landslides 3, and false alarms 12. Compared with the previous year (1935) there was an increase of 53 calls. Thirty-three were received by fire alarms, one hundred and thirty-four by telephone, nine from Police and sixteen from messengers.
12. Of the false alarms, five were maliciously given, three were given with good intent, and four were due to electrical faults.
THEATRE AND OTHER DUTIES.
13. Duties performed by members of the Brigade at public and private entertainments during the year totalled 258 comprising altogether 1,795 hours.