XN000022-1974-06-20 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1974.

FIRE PREVENTION OFFICERS KEPT BUSY

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THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU CONDUCTED 20,745 INSPECTIONS DURING MAY, THE HIGHEST FOR A SINGLE MONTH THIS YEAR.

MORE THAN 8,000 OF THE INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT AS A RESULT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MEANS OF ESCAPE IN BUILDINGS.

OTHER INSPECTIONS INCLUDED FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (6,431), VENTILATION SYSTEMS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRIES (1,494), MEANS OF ESCAPE (1,103), SCHOOLS (511), RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS (218), CINEMAS AND THEATRES (35), MATSHEDS (22), TIMBER YARDS AND STORAGE (21), DANCING HALLS AND ACADEMIES (15) AND BILLIARD ROOMS (10).

THE NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS DURING THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR IS 73,578.

IN MAY, THE BUREAU ISSUED OR RENEWED A TOTAL OF 207 TIMBER AND DANGEROUS GOODS LICENCES AND UNDERTOOK 173 PROSECUTIONS RESULTING IN FINES AMOUNTING TO $73.195 BEING IMPOSED.

THE NUMBER OF FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES ISSUED WAS 348. THESE ARE SERVED IN CASES WHERE A HAZARD IS FOUND AND THEY SPECIFY A PERIOD FOR IT TO BE PUT RIGHT. IF THE NOTICE IS NOT COMPLIED WITH, COURT ACTION MIGHT RESULT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT URGED THE PUBLIC TO REPORT TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU ANY FIRE HAZARD WHICH THEY OBSERVE. HE SAID THE BUREAU MAINTAINED A ROUND-THE-CLOCK ANSWERING SERVICE AND REPORTS COULD BE MADE AT ANY TINE.

NOTE TU EDITORS:

PRESS CONFERENCE ON SMOKING REPORT

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A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON TO COINCIDE WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON CIGARETTE SMOKING.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. PETER WILLIAMS, WHO WAS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, WILL ATTEND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPORT.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT 3 P.M. IN THE GI3 35 MM THEATRE, 5TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

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