XN000022-1980-03-06 — Page 10

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THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1980

HINTS ON FIRE PREVENTION

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FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE PREVENTION ARE AFTER ALL ONLY BASIC COMMON SENSE AND ARE RELATIVELY EASY TO ADMINISTER, THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF KOWLOON, MR FRED JACKSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT A ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON MR JACKSON SAID: THE CLOSING OF DOORS AND WINDOWS, REMOVAL OF ELECTRICAL PLUGS FROM SOCKETS, EXITS AND GANGWAYS CLEAR, SMOKE LOBBY DOORS CLOSED AND STAIRCASES CLEAR TO ROOF OR GROUND FLOOR ALL MAKE FOR A SAFER SOCIETY.+

HE CALLED ON THOSE PRESENT TO BE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE AND DO THE IR SHARE TO HELP REDUCE THE DREADFUL TOLL OF LIVES AND PROPERTY CAUSED BY FIRES.

+THERE WERE MORE THAN 13 000 FIRES IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR RESULTING IN SOME 45 DEATHS TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DREADFUL INJURIES SUFFERED BY MANY. A TOTAL OF 768 PERSONS WERE INJURED INCLUDING 86 MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE WHO PHYSICALLY RESCUED 874 PERSONS, HE SAID.

+IN 1978,+ HE CONTINUED, +ALMOST 11 000 FIRES CAUSED IN EXCESS OF $113 MILLION AND SPEAK NOW OF DIRECT FIRE LOSS, NOT THE INDIRECT LOSS CAUSED BY LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF ORDERS, LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD.+

MR JACKSON ALSO ASKED THE AUDIENCE, I SEE THE PRICE OF A NEW ROLLS-ROYCE OR MERCEDES IS $300 000 WHILST POSSIBLY NOT EVERY ONE HERE HAS A CAR IN THAT BRACKET DO YOU HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN YOUR CAR?+

+I GUARANTEE THAT VERY FEW HAVE, HE SAID.

+ THE POINT I MAKE IS THAT PEOPLE PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PRESTIGIOUS TRANSPORT AND FORGET TO, OR WILL NOT PAY $200 FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER,

→THERE WERE 691 VEHICLE FIRES IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR AND A GREAT DEAL OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN PUT OUT IN THEIR INCIPIENT STAGES BY THE DRIVERS IF THEY HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND MORE IMPORTANT KNEW HOW TO OPERATE THEM,+ HE SAID.

ALSO ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE, MR JACKSON ASKED +THERE MUST BE QUITE A FEW OF YOU HERE TODAY WHO HAVE YOUR OWN COMPANIES CAN ASK YOU, DO YOU HAVE A STAFF EVACUATION DRILL, IF NOT, WHY NOT?

+IT MAY SAVE YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR LIVES, WHO KNOWS?+ HE ADDED.

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