Expert Views on Fire Fighting
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Pithy but Valuable Contributions from the Fire Chiefs of Leading Cities and Towns in Great Britain
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES IN SHEFFIELD'S EQUIPMENT:
THE Sheffield Fire Brigade, which has been under the command of Mr. T. Breaks, M.I.Fire E., since 1923; is , en organization under the control of the Watch Committee, and its headquarters is situated in Division Street, one of the principal thoroughfares of the city, with a supplementary station at Attercliffe, in the heart.of the. heavy industrial area of 'the steel city. All the equipment is of the most modern type, and includes seven motor pumps of varying capacities from 250 gallons to 1,000 gallons per minute, three tenders and a turntable fire escape. The personnel consists of 50 officers and men, all of whem are exclusively employed in fire-brigade duty; by. this it is meant that no -ambulance work or other extraneous duties
are performed by the firemen, Special attentien has been given to the question of extinguishing oil and petrol fires; Sheffield was one ofthe
• first (if not the .first) brigades in this Country to adopt mechanical :means for producing foam for this purpose, and it now has in commission an " air-foam " outfit, and " Xaust-stds " unit, whilst on order from the Pyrene Co., Ltd.; are two of its latest foam-producing branch pipes. It is the steel industry which calls for the use of foam in extinguishing oil fires, as in the works there are oumerous oil tanks used in the heat treatment of steels. The Brigade has numerous adaptations of electrical apparatus to expedite. the turning out of the machines. All the engines are equipped with electrical heaters and remote-starting devices. By the latter scheme the engines are started up from the watch room, which permits a great saving of time (this is an invention of Mr: Breaks). The double folding doors are also operated electrically from the watch room.
The Brigade responds to about 800 calls per annum, and the cost amounts to about £22,000 annually, or a rate of about 2d. in the L. .
EDINBURGH PREFERS THE SALOON:TYPE FIRE PUMP,
THE City of Edinburgh now includes an area of approximately 11 miles by 8, but the principal fire risks are still mainly situated in the central part of the city and at the Leith docks, The population is 439,000 and the total strength of the Brigade is 103, housed at a central station and four sub-stations, Mr. P. IVIethven, the firemaster, points out that these sub-stations were designed for the old horsed fire-engines and are now obsolete for present-day requirements. A scheme for the reorganization of the Brigade is being prepared, whereby these sub-stations will be discarded. and the whole force of the Brigade concentrated at the present headquarters and at a new station to be built near tha Leith section of the city.
The special fire risks include bonded stores, grain stores, rubber mills, petrol depots, chemical wocks, woollen factories, breweries and docks.
A complete system of police boxes has lately been installed in the city, and these have rendered special fire alarms unnecessary. There are 174 of these boxes, and since they were adopted in May, 1933, 656 fire calls and 165 messages have been received by the Brigade.
The Brigade outfit includes nine motor pumps, three turntable escapes, three small fire tenders, a monitor service wagon, a trailer pump, a Merryweather " Xaust-suds" pump, Pyrene 'loam-making branch, emulsifying nozzle, carbon-dioxide extinguishers, smoke helmets, Protohreathing outfits, Novex resuscitating sets and ambulance boxes with tannic acid tannaflax treatment for burns. All
the pumps carry 40-ft. extension ladders specially designed and made by the Brigade staff. The fire pumps found most suitable are of 500-700-gallon capacity, and the three latest have saloon bodies specially designed to meet the Brigade's requirements. These machines have proved most successful, special advantages being that the men and appliance are fully protected from the somewhat severe weather experienced in the northern capital, and ample space is available for housing the Many appliances required in modern fire-fighting. It is even pi-acticable to take the trailer pump frOrn its carriage and house it in the saloon.
The -Brigade has just taken delivery of a new Merry. weather turntable escape with all-steel ladders of 105-ft, extension, This machine is of all-British construction and is claimed by Mr. Methven to be the longest and most efficient yet Produced in this country. In it are introduced several improvements in design, including automatic pliimbing. The other two turntables are of 85-ft. and 95-ft., extension,
Besides the three saloon pumps, the Brigade has three of 500-gallon capacity, two of 400-gallon and one of '200gallon, thus providing machines suitable for any type of fire; These have open bodies, but they will be replaced as soon as possible by the improved closed-in type.
In this Brigade it has not been found necessary to install any special heating device for the machines, as the workshop staff keep the engines well up to tune, and with the . engine houses sufficiently' warmed there is no difficulty in getting a quick start.
PROTECTING BRISTOL'S CONGESTED AREAS AND DOCKS.
BRISTOL, with a population of over 400,000, is the largest city, outside London, in the South of England. The fire risks are very extensive, not only by reason of the many industries for which it is noted, but also because of the large congested area of old buildings of historical value, its city docks, and the large port at Avonmouth,
The Bristol docks are very extensive, reach right into the heart of the city and are bounded by large warehouses, bonded stores for merchandise of all descriptions, and extensive timber wharves. The Avonmouth Docks have many large granaries, oil-cake mills, general dock stores and warehouses. Avonmouth is also one of the largest oil depots in the country, and Supt. F. Winteringham, the chief officer, mentions that it is part of Bristol City, and not, as erroneously supposed by many, a separate small town. On the opposite side of the River Avon from Avonmouth there are the Portishead Docks, and here are situated an important electric power station and an oil-refining depot.
The industries of the city are numerous and varied, and include tobacco, chocolate, paper mills, flour mills, oil refineries, soap works, furniture, boots and shoes, engineering, etc. In fact, there are few industries for which Bristol is not noted, There is also an air port, and the Fire Brigade is responsible for the fire protection of the large works and adjoining aerodrome of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., Ltd..
The fire equipment includes an all-Diesel fire float, the first in the country, five combination motor pumps with ladders and escapes, two 90-ft. water towers, two tenders and a trailer pump, with a personnel of 70 men of all ranks—all these being at the central station in Bristol. At Avonmouth there is a fire float, one combination motor pump with ladders, one tender, one escape, and a personnel of 15 men,
Each machine carries; in addition to the usual equipment of hose, standpipes' and small appliances, two foam generators and self-contained breathing apparatus. Owing to ths D27
enormous risk of oil fires, a special foam-generating plant is kept at the central station, and one at Avonmouth.
There is no special method of keeping the engines warmed up ready for use, other than starting them up twice during the 24 hours. The water supply for fires is good, and in addition to the hydrants in the streets there is a number of underground tanks for supplying large quantities of water for the motor pumps at big outbreaks.
Bristol has recently changed over from the Gamewell Alarm system to the direct telephone box, and the number of alarm posts has been increased from 60 to 123. The number of fire calls received during the year 1934 was 751, and in 1933, 796.
SOUTHAMPTON DEALS WITH FIRES IN DOCKS AND SHIPS.
THE area of the Borough of Southampton, excluding tidal waters and foreshore, is 9,192 acres, with a population of 177,470 (1932 census). The -rateable value of the town is approximately £1,380.037. Mr. E. Hayward, M.I.FireE., mentions that the Southampton Borough Council is prepared at all times to allow the Brigade to proceed to fires occurring outside the municipal area, provided the Brigade is at liberty to do so..
Timber and shipbuilding yards located on the waterfront constitute the most serious fire hazard. Owing to the congested nature of some of the properties, difficulty has been experienced in obtaining an adequate supply of water from the tide, and the Fire Brigade Committee has recommended that tenders be invited for the supply of a new 350-400-g.p.m. trailer pump, which appliance would be extremely useful in dealing with fires of this nature, The Southern Railway Docks are protected by the Southern Railway Fire Brigade, but in the event of a fire assuming serious proportions the call is transmitted to this department. For dealing with ship fires, revolving nozzles and breathing apparatus are carried on all pumps. The type of appliance recently adopted by the department is the six-cylinder 90 Teo. fire engine with a 650-800-g.m.p. pump in a forward position and equipped with a 50-ft. escape. This appliance has been found very suitable for the requirements of the town, as the pump may be operated without removing the escape.
Of the 214 calls dealt with by the Brigade during the period covered by the report for the year ended March 31, 1935, 80 were arrested in their incipient stage by means of the first-aid pump. This unit has been found to be very effective, owing to the fact that water is almost instantly obtained at the nozzle, and the jet is always under the control of the fireman, thus minimizing water damage. The fire engines are " run up " five times daily for warming purposes, also for detecting mechanical defects.
IMPORTANT FIRE RISKS IN THE LANCASTER DISTRICT.
LANCASTER is a borough with an acreage of 3,482 and a population of 43,383. A number of works is concerned in the making of linoleum, Lancaster cloth, printedcotton fabrics, carpets, imitation leather, artificial silk, and furniture, all of which have in their composition some component which lends itself to grave fire risks, states Mr. H. J. Vann, chief constable and chief officer of the Fire Brigade. In the manufacture of linoleum, linseed oil is used to a very great extent; in silk, acetone and other inflammable spirits, and in furniture, varnishes, spirits, etc. Fortunately, the proprietors of these concerns • are fully alive to the dangers attending their respective businesses, and quite apart from the provision of efficient fire services by the local authority, they take an extraordinary interest in the prevention of fire. So much so that most of tbe factories are equipped with Mather and Platt's automatic sprinklers and with fire-resisting doors. The officers of the Brigade are conversant with the construction and layout of the factories, and, by arrangement, co-operate with the specialists in the portions of the factory affected in dealing with any fire that arises.
In almost every factory referred to some highly inflammable spirit is used, which calls for the use of foam as a combating agent. With this in mind, every effort has been made to improve the apparatus and equipment owned by the local authority and to have on hand a plentiful B28 supply of solution to meet any contingency that might arise. In addition, the owners of the factories have themselves provided foam machines and have trained members of the staff in their use.
The Brigade is equipped with a Merryweather 60 h.p. (700-gallon) pump and escape; a " streamlined" covered Merryweather machine with 275-gallon pump; a 250-gallon trailer pump and a first-aid tender. Each of these machines carries two-gallon hand extinguishers, and on the tender a Merryweather " Xaust-suds " generator is also conveyed.
An a result of experiments carried out by the chief officer, Mr. H. J. Vann, and Mr. M. FitzGibbon, director and chemist, Lunevale Products, Ltd., Lancaster, it is hoped to equip each of the machines to deal with petrol and oil fires by the addition of a simple device in respect of which a patent is being sought. This will mean that in Lancaster it would be possible to deliver something like 1,000 gallons of foam per minute on to any fire arising.
In addition to the area of the borough, the Brigade serves a large surrounding district where country house and farm fires occur, and in respect of this service the trailer pump, which is of particular value for this type of work, has recently been mounted on pneumatic tyres, so that it can easily be -taken over rough country and ploughed land.
Each of the engines is equipped with an electric radiator heater, and is immediately responsive on receipt of a call. The engines are always warm, and there is no difficulty in starting up in winter time, as is often occasioned where no such apparatus is fitted. Although members of the Brigade do not actually live on the premises, they reside in houses adjacent to the fire station, and the tender normally leaves within half a minute of the call, and the second rnaehine within two minutes.
The Brigade is not a permanent one, but these figures speak eloquently for the interest and enthusiasm of its members. A permanent engineer is on duty day and night.
THE LEEDS BRIGADE COPES WITH A LARGE CONGESTED AREA.
'THE Fire Brigade in Leeds is a police department under 1 the direct control of the chief constable, Mr. R. L. Matthews, C.B.E. Merryweather, Dennis and Leyland high-powered engines are kept constantly heated by ". Genii " electric immersion heaters. Other appliances include two turntable fire escapes, two tenders, a trailer pump, utility wagon, foam tender and lorry. A recent acquisition is a Dennis first-aid machine. This gives improved acceleration and a new power-to-weight ratio. A six-cylindered engine of over 100 b.h.p. is used in a light chassis and many features are innovations. Dimensions have been reduced to a minimum to negotiate congested traffic, and with gear and crew it weighs under 5 tons.
The multifarious trades in Leeds and the 60 square miles covered demand a high degree of fire protection. Large housing estates in the suburbs increase the responsibilities, and it is intended soon to decentralize the equipment in an effort to overcome traffic problems and reduce the time taken to arrive at the scene of a fire.
As a petrol-distributing centre there are large petrol compounds on the canal which add to the fire hazards. Other risks include clothing factories, cabinet works, chemicals, film storage, and much manufacturing involving inflammable material.
The city is fortunate in having a splendid water supply augmented by the River Aire and the canals.
BIRMINGHAM, THE' TOWN OF A THOUSAND TRADES.
THE chief officer of the Birmingham Brigade, Mr. A. R. Tozer, refers our readers to what he terms the excellent article which appeared in The Commercial Motor for March 29, 1935, pages 212-213. He does not think that very much can be added to this article, beyond the general description that the Birmingham area of 51,147 acres is, in the main, built-up land, and that, with the modern methods of road transport, the tendency has been to move large factories into the outer areas of the city, thus spreading important fire risks in all zones of the city.
As to a description of the fire risks, this would he difficult, inasmuch as Birmingham has been described as the " town of a thousand trades," and at the present time it is estimated that 1,200 different trades are carried on.