XN000022-1976-11-29 — Page 6

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1976

PUBLIC SHOULD HEED RED FIRE

DANGER WARNING

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A FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO HEED THE RED FIRE DANGER WARNING AT PRESENT IN OPERATION, FOLLOWING A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FIRES DURING THE PAST TWO DAYS.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED THAT THE RED SIGNAL MEANT THE RISK OF FIRE WAS VERY HIGH.

+THERE WERE 66 FIRES YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) AND 94 ON

+ON THE PREVIOUS SIX DAYS THE AVERAGE

SATURDAY, HE SAID.

NUMBER OF FIRES WAS 47.+

AS A RESULT OF THESE FIRES, TWO PERSONS WERE KILLED AND THOUSANDS WERE MADE HOMELESS.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT WHEN THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN THE HUMIDITY LEVEL, NOT ONLY COULD FIRES START MORE EASILY BUT THEY COULD ALSO SPREAD WITH MUCH GREATER SPEED.

+WITH THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE AIR LOW, AND INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS DRIER THAN USUAL, IT ONLY TAKES A SIMPLE ACT OF CARELESSNESS TO START A FIRE,+ HE STRESSED. +SO IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT DURING THESE PERIODS OF EXTREME FIRE DANGER THAT EVERY STEP BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THE SLIGHTEST RISK OF STARTING A FIRE WHICH COULD COST YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOME OR YOUR JOB, HE EMPHASISED.

THE SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO ALL VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE TO EXTINGUISH CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES BEFORE DISPOSING THEM.

HE SAID OF THE 160 FIRES REPORTED DURING THE WEEKEND 90 WERE GRASS FIRES. ONE FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT NEAR SHEUNG TONG VILLAGE IN TSUEN WAN YESTERDAY TOOK FIRE CREWS FROM BOTH THE FIRE SERVICES AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS ALMOST SEVEN HOURS TO EXTINGUISH. IT AFFECTED AN AREA OF ONE MILLION SQUARE METRES.

ON FIRE PREVENTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN THE HOME, RUBBISH SHOULD BE CLEARED REGULARLY AND GREAT CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED WHEN HANDLING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SUCH AS HEATERS. MATCHES AND LIGHTERS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT WITHIN REACH OF CHILDREN.

PEOPLE USING KEROSENE OR L.P.G. STOVES FOR COOKING OR HEATING SHOULD TAKE GREAT CARE AND SPARE FUEL SHOULD BE KEPT IN A SAFE PLACE.

/+AT WORK,