FIRE AT RECORD LIBRARY OF RADIO SINGAPURA

Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs (a) what was the cause of the recent fire at the Record Library of Radio Singapura; (b) what was the number and value of the records damaged or destroyed in the fire; (c) what was the cost of the damage to the building; (d) what is the number of records donated to Radio Singapura by the public, including firms, after the fire; and (e) what precautions had been taken against fire after the previous fire at the T.V. Studios.

The Minister of State for Culture (Mr Lee Khoon Choy) (for the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, police investigations to date into the fire which occurred on 15th June, 1967, at the Gramophone Record Library, Radio Singapura, have failed to reveal the cause of the fire. The Police report on the fire shows that there was no evidence to support the assumption that an electrical circuit had caused the fire, or that the fire was caused by petroleum or inflammable oils. Although the report did not show that the fire could have been caused by negligence on the part of the officers who had access to the Record Library, the Police report stated that the Record Library was not a prohibited place for smoking and that staff, with legitimate access to the Library, could smoke when they visited the Library on official business. After the fire, the Record Library has, along with other vital areas in TV. Centre and Broadcasting House, been prohibited areas for smoking.

The total number of gramophone records damaged and destroyed in the fire was 94,506. They were made up as follows: 57,400 were 78 rpm records 18,600 were 45 rpm records and 18,500 were 33.1/3 rpm records.

The original value of these records was $367,375.

The cost of the damage to the building has been estimated to be $10,920.

Up to yesterday, 6th September, 1967, the number of records received by Radio Singapura as donations from firms, individuals and foreign Embassies and Consulates was 5,938.

After the previous fire on 15th August, 1965, the following precautions were taken:

(i) In each area connected with T.V. operations, an officer was specially appointed to be responsible for fire pre vention.

(ii) Definite procedure for action to be taken was laid down if a fire should be spotted by anyone. This includes:

(a) information to the Area Auxiliary Fire Officer;

(b) steps taken to guish the fire use of fire extinguishers;

(c) the calling of the Fire Brigade;

(d) the switching off of air conditoning and isolation of power supply to the area.

(iii) Departmental fire officers were also appointed at Broadcasting House and the T.V. Centre.

(iv) Following the fire, 90 officers from various sections had been sent to the Fire Brigade office for training.

(v) To make officers aware of the danger of fire, a fire drill is conducted on every first Monday of the month.

(vi) Advice of the Chief Fire officer has been sought as to an effective fire prevention system to be introduced in the vital areas of the TV. Centre and Broadcasting House. The Fire Prevention Officer has recommended an automatic sprinkler system as the only effective means of protecting the building and the equipment. The estimated cost of introducing the automatic sprinkler system is awaited from the Fire Prevention Officer.