NEAFC 31st Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS
In one instance a store cleaned out a stockroom there and removed stuff that had been
stored there since 1916 by the owner. As a result we got the town cleanedf up of a
lot of that debris.
As a result of the recommendations of the Bay State Club we are increasing our
central= fire zone and the Finance .Committee of the town are recommending that a
civilian committee be named to study fire ordinances. The entire town is very pleased
by the whole inspection and I don’t think there is any town that should miss it. I
think it is a great boost for the fire department.
CHAIRMAN ERSI~INE: Did you notice any reduction in alarms and fires following
that inspection? .
CHIEF BROWN: I couldn’t state right off, but we haven’t had~ any which amounted
to anything since. I don’t know definitely whether it is the result or not, gut we haven’t
had any fires traceable to that.
’CHAIRMAN F, RSI(INE: I think Chief Meunier of Southbridge reported they went
something like 90 or 100 days after inspection before having an alarm.
CHIEF BROWN: I think what concerns most of us, and that is, our rest homes.
We have quite a number of rest homes and even for delinquent children, and I think
the Bay State Club in going through those homes, and our public schools, found defects
almost nil, which I think is a good point. We have received through our rest homes
andl the school department 100 per cent cooperation. Every rest home has tire detection
required by the State.
MR. KEANY: I would like to say the Bay State Fire Prevention Association would
like to inspect every town and every city but with our limited manpower naturally
we have to confin~ o{a}~n@ections to towns around 1~,000 to 20,000 population. It
would be ~ physically impossible for us to inspect the City of Worcester, so we try to
limit it to towns under 20,000 people.
CHIEF MILTON C. ANDREWS, New Bedford: What is the policy of insurance
companies in relation to claims where a fire is caused from the violation of laws, such
as inflammable fluids? Second, what is the policy in regard to paying claims where a
fire was caused from burning off paint on the outside of buildings?
MR. WESTERVELT: Let me take the last part first..He is going to collect his loss.
If it occurs because of workmanship there is no reason why he shouldn’t collect. On
the other hand there is always the possibility that subjugation could be taken agains.t
the person in case of gross negligence. There is nothing in the policy which claims
refuge because of violation of the law.
Now there may be--and I don’t know the particular policy contracts--a violation
of policy .contract and if there be a violation of policy contract the company is within
its rights to hold off payment of the claim. Whether it be increased hazard or any
other policy violation, but violation of law per se is not reason for violation of claim.
CHIEF CORCORAN, Newton: Is it under a mutual agreement with the mutual
insurance companies that the owner of a home who is going to have a paint job done,
that he notify the insurance company together with the Chief?
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