Fire-Brigade Matters.
Page 9
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News coo ribulions arc incitc4; ptcyractil Will fe naolc On publication.
West Ham's Policy.
Mr. Edward Smith, the superintendent of the West Ham Fire Brigade, has reported to his committee that One ot the two steam fire-engines, purchased from Messrs. Shand, Mason and Co., in 1877, was now practically worn out. He suggested that it be replaced with an up-to-date petrolmotor self-propelled pumping engine, with a capacity of 350 gallons per !Menke This type of machine would he superior on the following points: Promptitude ill turning out; rapidity in travelling ; and an increase in pumping power. It would therefore add to the efficiency of the Brigade .iv givieg additional protection to those parts of the borough which are a long distance from the station, and also to those institutions that are maintained by the commit over its border, to say nothing of its capacity for ready and prompt action in the immediate
(filing expenses of the Brigade would ti Ion . Tile hire of one pair of horses eeuld be discontinued, and the gas for heating the boiler, whilst a steamer is standing in the station, would no longer be required, these two items alone redwing the expenditure by about £136 per aneum. The committee has decided to purchase a petrol motor on as suggested by the seperintendent. at an estimated cost of &mitt Tt will he remembered that ibis brigade secured a Lloyd and Plaister motor escape wngon last year. This machine was described in our issue of 29th ,July, 1900, "Locking the Stable Door, etc." The two motor fire-engines. of which we repnehme a photograph herewith, represent the equipment which has been kept in commission by the aethorities at the Brussels Exhibition, since the disastrous conflagration of the 14th of August. They are both motor pumps, and have a capacity of 500 gallons and 280 gallons respectively. The
larger machine, as a matter of fact, did valiant service during the fire, and it was largely owing to its behaviour that the French and Italian sections were saved from destruction. The smaller model happened to he ready for delivery in the Drouville works. ,o that a repeat order was immediaTet, forthcoming. The Drouville machines are censtrected on .Lorraine-Dietrieh chassis and are equipped with piston pumps, and it is interesting to note that the tires on these vehicles are of the Shrewsbury and Milliner "Giantpattern.