XN000022-1972-12-06 — Page 4

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Wednesday, December 6, 1972

PUBLIC CAN HELP REDUCE FIRES

The Fire Services Department today warned that incidents of fire

will inevitably increase with the onset of the cooler weather and the accompany-

ing low humidity.

However, a department spokesman said members of the public can help

in reducing not only many of the fires but also the number of lives which are

lost and the property which is destroyed.

In view of the heavy casualties involved in this morning's fire in

Wan Chai, the spokesman urged members of the public to be always on the alert

and never to ignore the fire-prevention advice given repeatedly by the Fire

Services Department.

He said lower temperatures bring out, by the thousand,heating appliances

such as kerosene stoves, fan heaters, electric fires and many other forms of

heating equipment.

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After a long period of idleness and before being used, he said, all

these appliances should be thoroughly checked by a responsible person or an

authorized electrician in order to ascertain that they are in good working

condition and serviceable.

When in use, all such appliances should be kept well clear of any

inflammable material or goods, and kerosene stoves and portable heaters should

be secured so as not to be knocked or blown over.

In the case ****