FIRE ENGINE UNDER TEST

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1947, Page 3

FIRE ENGINE UNDER TEST

EXCELLENT RESDLTS ACHIEVED Members of the -Shannon. Voluntfeer Fife Brigade carried out a test of the new fire engine over the weekend, with the object of asctrtaining the amount of water required to feed! the pumping system. ■ - The first test was carried out in the Otaru Stream, where a plentiful supply of water was available. There the machine had no ciitficulty in reaching a high pressure. "The other tests were made in Stansell's Drain, where the water i& very shallow. On one occasion it was necessary to scoop a quantity of metal from the bed of the drain so that the base of the intake lead could be covered. The machine again exeelled itself by reaching a pressure of over 100 lbs. per square inch in' a f ew seconds. This is a sufficiently high* pressure to attack a fire at" the top of the Newtown Hill. . • When the tests were completed all members of . 'the brigade were very pleased with the results, and the small number of interested citizens present was unanimous in the opinion that the new engine, is one of the greatest assets to the town. When drying racks £re completed, the brigade intends to carry out a number of other tests with full leads .of-hose. A working bee. of brigadesmen spent a considerable time removing the floor from the garage portion of the station to enable the engine to be housed. At present only temporary. arrangements have been made, but it is hoped that in - a short time permanent alterations can be made to the station. The engine is now fully equipped and ready to meet any emergency. '