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THE MODERN TECHN IQUE IN FIRE PROTECTION

29th October 1948
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Page 38, 29th October 1948 — THE MODERN TECHN IQUE IN FIRE PROTECTION
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

By Ashley F. Taylor, A.I.R.T.E.

AT first, the passing of the National Fire Service early this year and the reversion of fire protection to the auspices of local authorities were hardly noticeable to the general public, although in fact a widespread redeployment of the forces available took place.

Local pride is now beginning to re-establish itself, although shortages of supplies and the need for economy have in most districts prevented the reappearance of individual municipalities' pa r ticular insignia. In Manchester, a typical example of an important provincial area, the cost of merely changing N.F.S. buttons on fire-brigade uniforms would be several hundred pounds, so that is among the things which have to wait until more vital req ttiremen'ts are met.

In its operational and administrative needs, Manchester forms an excellent example of the new set-up. Not only ha 's its brigade to extend fire protection over a region inhabited by some 750,000 persons, but it is liable to be called to help such places as Salford, Stockport and Oldham, as well as the county areas of Lancashire and Cheshire, all of which carry heavy risks without having so great an amount of cover as Manchester itself. • The extent and type of assistance are predetermined by the chief 84 officers concerned, their schemes being subject to Home Office approval. To the layman, fire protection often seems no more than the pouring of quantities of water into conflagrations and the provision of patent ladders to facilitate the escape of fire victims, but in fact the brigade's responsibilities extend to many other spheres.

Extinguishing of fires, of course, remains a brigade's principal duty, but the public has come to rely upon the fireman for assistance in a wide variety of circumstances. Kittens which have mysteriously become stranded on lofty roofs are rescued. Cat burglars come in for their share of attention, as occasionally the police call for the assistance of fire-brigade appliances in their pursuit of criminals.

In recent times, Home Office specifications for fire appliances have been circulated throughout the country, in order to secure chief officers' comments and to achieve some degree of standardization in the manufacture of basic equipment At the moment, most machines are of pre-war type, for by comparison with normal road vehicles, fire-brigade equipment has.an extremely long life.

Among the principal appliances available in the Manchester area a re three 100-ft. turnt a b re ladders of Merryweather manufacture, which are of all-steel construction and can be employed as water towers. Specially suitable for dealing with outbreaks in warehouses7or other lofty buildings, they are, mechanically elevated from a power take-off.

For more general use there are eight pump escapes of Dennis manufacture. These incorporate handoperated escape ladders which can be elevated to 50-60 ft. Carrying 1,000 ft. of hose, they have a pumping capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute. Additional equipment on these machines includes two-way radio, insulated equipment to afford full protection in fighting electrical fires, and extinguishing apparatus for minor oil fires.

Supplementary appliances include 12 major pumps and eight light trailer pumps, the latter classification varying from the 80 g.p.m. type, which can be carried by two men, to larger models discharging 350-500 g.p.m., One of the principal duties of the light pumps is to clear basements which have been flooded as a result of storms or other causes.

Among the most valuable vehicles employed in central Manchester is the emergency tender which carries the necessities for a wide variety of rescue work. To protect men who • are called upon to enter poisonous atmospheres of various kinds, Siebe Gorman breathing apparatus, with a one hour self contained protooxygen set is included. Such sets are employed in rescue work in chemical plants, sewers, refrigeration plants with their poisonous fumes, and buildings that are heavily charged with smoke.

An oxygen cutting plant is another item which has many uses, including that of extricating people trapped in lifts. Other fitments include equipment for fighting minor fires, and resuscitation sets for dealing with cases of asphyxiation.

In extinguishing outbreaks, firemen are trained to use as little water as possible, for a little water can go a long way and cause a great deal of additional damage. With this in mind, a salvage tender is provided which carries supplies of waterproof sheeting, with which trade stocks can be covered or damaged roofs can be protected. Sawdust is supplied for soaking up water which may be lying on floors, and equipment is provided for cutting holes in buildings so as to allow water to escape.

All this spells a great advance from Manchester's first motor fire appliance, which was acquired 37 years ago. It had a Dennis chassis, chain-driven, with Belsize pump, Healey-Shaw clutch, and solid tyres.

In these -days, most firemen throughout the country are on duty for a 60-hour week, one week on the day watch of nine hours and one

week on the night watch of 15 hours alternately. From the time the alarm bell rings, probably under a minute will elapse before the appliance that is next for duty is on the road.

The appliance house is kept warm and the engine radiators have thermo-heaters which plug into the mains. Trickle chargers keep the batteries in efficient order.

When the man in the street sees the brigade in attendance at a small fire, he is often puzzled by the fact that the hoses do not appear to be connected to the mains. Most house fires can, however, be controlled by using water from a 60-gallon tank which is fitted to each escape and has its own pump, operated by power take-off from the engine, with a hose reel carrying 200 ft. of unkinkable tubing.This-can so into action with a minimum of delay and is probably the most-used item of equipment in the fire-fighting world.

With the hose quickly in action, a line may be run from the mains hydrant in order to replenish the tank. In rural areas, where water supplies are not usually readily available, larger tanks are carried and extensively employed.

Fighting Big Fires

Where the big fire pumps are brought into action, great skill is demanded of the operator. The man is required to supply water to the fire and must at the same time keep watch on the fuel supply, engine temperature, oil pressure .and. in particular, on the pump gauges Any sudden fluctuation in water pressure might cost a man his life when balancing on the top of an escape ladder

The road engine may have to run continuously for 12 hours or more when operating the pump, and when radiator temperature rises, cold water is by-passed from the main supply into the water jacket.

The Fire Brigade has a history record for each appliance, showing mileages covered, time during which B5 the engine has been employed on pumping, petrol and oil consumption, repairs and other relevant details. In Manchester some firemen' are trained to do routine inspections, greasing and minor adjustments, but in the main the appliances are looked after by the brigade workshops staff, which consists entirely of technicians.

The department provides for almost everything from minor repairs to reconditioning, bodybuilding, escape building and painting. Where the work is beyond local scope, the job is sent to a nearby Home Office workshop, one of five located at strategic points in various parts of the country.

To maintain the required pitch of efficiency, testing of equipment is constantly in progress at the various stations. Petrol, oil and water are checked twice a day when the watch changes, whilst drivers check their brakes daily. The machine is taken off rota immediately if any fault be found and it is sent for examination by the brigade workshops. The lighting system is also checked each day. Appliances are greased in accordance with charts displayed in the appliance room, special waterproof lubricants being necessary for use on the fire pumps.

Weekly attention includes the cleaning and testing of plugs, topping up of batteries, removal of corrosion from terminals, also jacking up the machine so that the entire surface of the tyres can be inspected for cuts or embedded flints. Where tyre damage is found, the cover is checked by brigade workshops, being sent away for attention if required.

Monthly Test

Every item of equipment employed by the brigade is subjected to a standard test each month and after every occasion when it is used, pressures and weights being set at double the expected stresses. Fire pumps, tor instance, discharge water from a dam for 15 minutes with their gauges showing a predetermined figure.

This is followed by a vacuum test, in which the pump has to develop I a certain number of inches on the gauge and to keep the needle at this point for a specified time. So as to make certain that the pumps will be able to lift water from low-level supplies a deep-lift test takes place every six months

The chief officer is responsible for the purchase of all stores and, so that vehicles can quickly be put into action even if a defect develops at night, substantial stocks of spares are maintained at the brigade headquarters. Equipment at the brigade workshops is sufficient to cover everything up to and including rebores, there being lathes, drills, grinding machines, blacksmith's forge, and a fully equipped electrician's shop.


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