Fire-Brigade Matters.
Page 7
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Chief-Officer E. Smith, of West Ham Brigade.
Forty-three years ego, Chief-Officer E. Smith, of the West Ham Fire Brigade, who has just received delivery of a new motor escape wagon that is described in this issue (pages 426-7), commenced his career as a fire fighter in the old Metropolitan Fire Brigade. He became assistant station officer in the London organization, and subsequently went to Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he organized the brigade there throughout as superintendent. In 1881, hearing that a vacancy had occurred at West Ham he applied for the appointment succes.sfully, so that now he has completed very nearly 20 years in the service of West Ham, with whom, we understand, his
bradness relations have, through the whole of this period, been of the most amicable character. ft is an object lesson, which should be of considerable import to many chief officers of brigades throughout the world, to realise the keenness, in spite of considerable professional criticism, with which Chief-Officer Smith, after so many years " horse " experience, has insisted upon the necessity of a. wellequipped brigade's gradually being provided with motor-propelled appliances. In spite of a goodhumoured grumble at the oldfashioned nature of the headquarters building, this genial " chief " proudly asserts that, considering the size of his brigade, he has as efficient an equipment as any other in the country. This is as it should be, for the
Brigade has to protect an area of 7.`, square miles and a population of 320.000, and some of the risks— chemical works, soap and indiarubber factories. Tate's sugar works, jam factories and the Victoria and a portion of the Albert docks—are very heavy and of a most dangerous nature.
The Christchurch N. Z.) munieipality has ordered a Dennis turbine fire-engine with a delivery capacity of 450 gallons per minute.
Berlin's Motor Reserves.
The Wilmersdorf (Berlin) Council intends to organize its new firestation on a " mixed " basis, two of the proposed vehicles being horse
dril%vn. and two self propelled. It is. significant that the scheme provides also for room for a reserve set of three automobiles. This new station, without site and rolling stock, is costing the ratepayers £20,000, and it will be opened next spring.
At Bradford.
Chief-Officer James Scott, of the Bradford Fire Brigade, has now had his Dennis engine in use a full six months. It has attended upwards of 80 fires, and, on the 17th ult., when called to an out-district conflagration, a distance of 4.4 miles was covered in less than 10 minutes. While working on this particular fire, the pumps had to deliver water to a distance of 350 yds., up a steep incline, and they did it without difficulty. Mr. Scott reports : " The Dennis motor gives. entire satisfaction in every respect, and I have every confidence in it." We illustrate it herewith, and are indebted to the Chairman of the Bradford Committee for the opportunity.
Northampton's Parlous State.
Inspector Wakefield, the head of the Northampton Brigade, presented an important report to the Town Council, on Monday evening last, by the Watch Committee. We quote. from the report : " After direfully considering the subject of fire protection for Northampton, I conclude that the present appliances and the arrangements for getting to a fire are quite insufficient and unsatisfactory. It
is
very essential that. the Brigade should be on the scene of a fire as soon as Possible after the outbreak, and that the firemen on their arrival should be in a fit condition to deal effectively with the fire. The present system of runningwith a hand-cart to a fire is a. had one. for if the fire is some distanee from the Fire Station the energy of the firemen is expended by the time they reach the scene of the fire. . So far as Northampton is concerned, the question of adopting a first-aid motor machine is of paramount importance. The area of the. Municipal Borough is 3,469 acres, and we have a large number of factories and workshops where numbers of hands are employed, some of which are situate at a considerable distance from the centre of the town, and should assistance be required it would bealmost impossible to render help with our present appliances."
The Watch_ Committee recommended the early invitation of tenders for one motor fire-engine.