XN000022-1975-05-17 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1975.

INCREASE IN FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU INSPECTIONS

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THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT 14,019 INSPECTIONS IN APRIL, A RISE OF 12 PER CENT OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH'S FIGURE.

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THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS DURING THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR TO 54,063 OF WHICH ABOUT A HALF

WERE IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS.

THE INCREASE WAS MAINLY DUE TO A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF VENTILATION SYSTEMS INSPECTED,

A FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE BUREAU HAD RECEIVED MORE INQUIRIES ABOUT AIR CONDITIONING

INSTALLATIONS FOLLOWING THE ARRIVAL OF WARMER WEATHER. THE NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS IN THIS CATEGORY WAS 1,241, COMPARED WITH 697 IN MARCH.

AS IN THE PAST, MOST OF THE INSPECTIONS WERE CONNECTED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT MEANS OF ESCAPE FROM BUILDINGS (5,645) AND 1,312 VERE RELATED TO GENERAL COMPLAINTS.

THERE WAS A BIG INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS INSPECTED DURING APRIL. FROM 2,065 IN MARCH IT WENT UP TO 2,894. ONE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEW SYSTEM OF LICENSING DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES ANNUALLY.

OTHER INSPECTIONS WERE: DANGEROUS GOODS (907), FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATIONS (400), NEON SIGNS (6), PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY (98), RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS (302), SCHOOLS (317), TIMBER YARDS AND STORAGE (32) AND MISCELLANEOUS (67), ELEVEN FIRES WERE

INVESTIGATED.

IN ADDITION, THE BUREAU FINALISED 658 PLANS FOR NEW BUILDING PROJECTS, ISSUED OR RENEWED 353 DANGEROUS GOODS LICENSES AND SEVEN TIMBER LICENSES, AND ALSO GAVE 18 LECTURES ON FIRE PREVENTION,. OVER 500 FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES WERE ISSUED= 100 PROSECUTIONS WERE UNDERTAKEN RESULTING IN FINES TOTALLING $39,145 BEING IMPOSED.