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SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1977
MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BY F.S.D.
IN CASE OF WATER RESTRICTION
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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT FIRE PARTICULARLY DURING THE CURRENT DRY SPELL.
THE APPEAL CAME AFTER A RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WATER RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED FROM JUNE 1 IF THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.
A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID: +ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO USE SEA WATER WHEREVER POSSIBLE IN FIRE-FIGHTING OPERATIONS IN CASE THERE IS WATER RESTRICTION,+
+SPECIAL UNITS CONSISTING OF A MAJOR PUMPING APPLIANCE AND A HOSE-LAYING LORRY WILL BE SET UP TO RELAY WATER FROM THE NEAREST SUPPLY POINT, SUCH AS THE SEAFRONT, TO THE FIRE SCENE,+ HE SAID.
FIRE BOATS WILL BE MOBILISED TO PUMP SEA WATER INTO LAND PUMPS SO THAT WATER CAN BE RELAYED TO THE SCENE OF FIRE.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH A LIST OF WATER MAINS WHICH WILL BE ON 24-HOUR SUPPLY IN CASE FRESH WATER HAS TO BE USED.
+AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, MINIMUM QUANTITY OF WATER WILL BE SPENT IN MAINTAINING AND TESTING OF ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT SO AS TO AVOID WASTAGE.+
IN ORDER TO KEEP UP THE EFFICIENCY OF FIREMEN, ONLY SEA WATER WILL BE USED FOR THE DAILY FIRE DRILLS IN STATIONS.
+THE PRESENT DRY WEATHER MEANS THERE IS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF FIRE UNLESS THE PUBLIC IS PREPARED TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS,+ HE STRESSED,
HE REITERATED THAT CARELESSLY DISCARDED LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES WERE MAJOR CAUSES OF FIRE IN HONG KONG AND ASKED THE PUBLIC TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE WERE PROPERLY OUT BEFORE DISPOSING OF THEM.
+LESS FIRE SAVES MORE WATER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +EVERY GALLON OF WATER USED IN FIRE-FIGHTING IS A GALLON LESS IN THE RESERVOIRS.+
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