CO129-614-1 Commission of Inquiry into fire at West Point- report 26-5-1949 - 22-12-1949 — Page 25

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CHATTER II

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THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND THE METHODS OF HEARING

EVIDENCE ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION.

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The Scope of the Terms of Reference:

10. At our first moeting we had to give precision to the terms of re- ference and to decide upon our methods of operation. An inquiry into the cause of loss of life and damage involved ascertaining the exact number of casualtics and an investigation into the structure and user of the premises involved in the fire, the origin of the fire itself, and the steps taken to save life and property once the fire had started. The determination of responsibility for loss of life and damage depended on the outcome of the inquiry into its cause. We were aware that it might involve an inquiry into the circumstances which occasioned the storage of film in an unlicensed godown, the conduct of the Fire Brigade in combatt- ing the fire and preventing illegal storage, and the methods of operation of fire insurance companies who would be vitally interested in fire risks. It would then be necessary for us to determine what measures could have been taken to prevent the fire taking place, and, once it had started, what measures could have been taken to reduce the loss of life and damage to property. A consideration of how these measures could be generally applied in the future would form the basis of our recommendations. pattern of the Inquiry was therefore more or less clear, and it was de- cided to divide it into seven phases, evidence on which could be heard consecutively in a logical order.

The Order of Hearing Evidence:

11. The phases were as follows :

Phase

Phase B.

Phase C.

Phase D.

Phase E.

The

Evidence on the structure and user of the premises and the number of persons who lost their lives in the fire.

Evidence on the outbreak of the fire and the action taken by the inhabitants of the tenements.

Evidence on the rescue of the inhabitants and the measures taken to combat the Fire by the Fire Brigade and the Police Force.

Investigation into the origin of the fire.

Investigation into the storage of goods in the Wing On Godowns.