Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 137

133

No.

9

98

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE BRIGADE FOR 1897.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

No. 32.

POLICE OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 31st January, 1898.

SIR,-I have the honour to submit the following report on the Government Fire Brigade for the year 1897.

2. There were 26 Fires, two of which occurred on vessels in the harbour, and 58 Incipient Fires during the past year. Details regarding each will be found attached. The Brigade turned out 40 times during the year,

The estimated damage caused by the fires was $177,150.00 and by the incipient fires $334.50. A list is attached shewing the number of fires that have occurred during each of the last ten years with the estimated value of property destroyed in each case.

3. There were three prosecutions for arson. In two cases the intention was to defraud and in these the prosecutions were successful. The first was in connection with the fire at No. 99, Jervois Street in which three occupants of the first floor, which had no connection with the shop on the ground floor where the fire originated, were smothered by smoke before they could be rescued.

Among the débris on the ground floor were found unmistakeable evidence of incendiarism, and the master of the shop was convicted and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment with hard labour.

The second case was in connection with the incipient fire which occurred at No. 231, Queen's Road Central on the 21st of May.

The Chinese Constable on the beat noticed smoke issuing from the house, and forcing an entrance found the cubicle, used by the accountant of the shop on the ground floor, ou fire in four different places. With commendable courage and presence of mind he beat out the flames with an old curtain.

The accountant was convicted and sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment with hard labour. These convictions seem to have had a beneficial effect, for the estimated value of property des- troyed by the 14 fires that occurred up to the 21st of May amounted to $115,930, while the esti- mated value of property destroyed by the 12 fires occurring after that date amounted to $61,200, in- cluding the fire of the 15th June which took place before the second conviction.

4. The latter fire was the most destructive that occurred during the year. partly destroyed, and the value of the damage done was estimated at $34,000.

Three houses were

The spread of the fire to the adjoining houses in this case was entirely due to the large and stoutly constructed sunshades existing in Jervois Street, the removal of which had to be effected be- fore the Brigade could work with their ladders. The delay that was thus caused was considerable, and was undoubtedly the cause of the fire spreading.

Since then the shop-keepers in Jervois Street have been induced by Mr. CHATHAM, when Acting Director of Public Works, to make their sunshades moveable so as to avoid such obstruction in future.

5. At the fire in No. 64, Third Street on the 24th of November. 15 persons unfortunately lost their lives. They were occupants of the first floor. The fire originated under the only staircase leading to the floor, and the woodwork being light (as in most Chinese houses) it immediately burned so fiercely that no person could venture down the stairs.

The occupants retreated to the kitchen, and before assistance could arrive the whole floor was in flames and they were suffocated.

The honses on each side of that burned, had ladders leading from the kitchen to the roof, but unfortunately such was not the case in house No. 64.

6. The water in the mains was not turned off at any time during the year.

7. The new floating Fire Engine (the engines and appliances of which are by Messrs. SHAND and MASON) was completed and available for service in February last, and has given satisfaction.

8. I attach a list of places where Fire Despatch Boxes are kept, and of private telephones to which the Police have courteously been granted access in case of fire, together with copy of a report from the Acting Engineer on the state of the various Fire Engines, which are all in good working

order.

9. It has not been found possible yet to carry out the extension of the Central Fire Station that I recommended last year. Till that is done it is impossible to effect any material improvement in rapidity in dealing with fires from the Central Fire Station.