Britain to Enrol Auxiliary Firemen in Defence Plan

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 107, 22 May 1937, Page 18

Britain to Enrol Auxiliary Firemen in Defence Plan

LONDON. — PreparationB for dealing with possible air raids in Britain have moved another step forward witb tbe announcement here of an elaborate scbeme for an auxiliary service to assist ordinary fire-figbting organisations. This scbeme includes a system of auxiliary fire stations and street patrols, and to work it about 200,000 volunteers are needed. Every fire station will bave to traiu an auxiliary service and stock additional supplies of up-to-date ' ligbt and beavy equipment. . The patrol system is to • be designed so tbat every street of towns subjected to air xaids will be under observation. No estimate of tbe cost bas yet been made but tbe Government declares tbat a considerable part of tbe money burden tbus put upon local autborities will be returned in the form of grants of assistance. ' . *s • Under tbe plan for augmcnting beavy fire-figbting appliancep, fire brigades are expected to obtain additional bigbpower pumps. The standard set in tbe memoranddm. is a pump witb a capacity of 700 gallons a minute at 100 .pounds pressure. Local authorities are also to earmark for use large lorries and river craft on wbicb tbe exta pumps can be carried. . Patrol units are to be f ormed in ail built-np areas. Tbe patrol units wili be equipped witb ligbt vans for 'b'auling band applianees and 'other light equipment. • Eecruits are to be div'ided into tbree categoriea, ex-firemen wbo enroll as toservists, auxiliary firemen witb full trainiu^ as firemen, und auxiliaries witbout sncb full training. Auxiliary firemen are to be equipped witb belmots, rubber boots, clotb tunic, belt,'axe and pouch, cilskin legg ings and a bose spanner. Provision for extra and adequate supplies of water for use by tbe auxiliary brigades is anotber rmportant matter to be dealt witb under tbe local schemes. "It should," tbe memorandum states, " be part of tbe scbeme to provide water in containers at fire posts and to advise and encourage bousebolders to bave water in buckets, baths, .etc., availabie on tbeir premises in an emergency." In case air raids should render communications between brigades, pumping stations, electricity stations and tbe like impossible, a service of ipessengers, with motor cycles and pedal bicycles is to be organised,