INSPECTOR HUGO

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1929, Page 2

INSPECTOR HUGO

ADDRESS TO CONFERENCE Captain Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades delivered a very interesting address to the U.F.B.A. Conference 01. Tuesday morning on matters affecting Fire Brigades, in the course of which lie said : Heavy as the lire, losses in New Zealand have been for years past, the loss for the last twelve months is higher than ever, probably little short of 1-J millions, this huge loss being greatly contributed to by the large number of fires that have occurred in the rural districts Conditions in this respect are steadily going from bad to worse and to suoli’an extent that a .number oi Insurance Companies are considering the advisability of ceasing operations in certain parts of New Zealand. Indeed, close to where we now are, I understand that two companies have already closed do.mi their business in this Hokitika district and this movement in all probability portends to increased insurance rates in the areas so affected. Invariably, when commenting on the aggregate loss in .New. Zealand as in comparison- with that obtaining in other countries, 1 consider it necessary to preface ’the subject by saying that id is not due to any comparative inefficiency of .our Fire Brigades, but to the abnormal number .of outbreaks of fire occurring in this./Dominion. In view qf certain happenings some months ago I consider it necessary to revert to &: subject upon which I have had a "to say iti years past, i.e. the intelligent use of water in extinguishing fires, a matter much affecting the fire fighting efficiency of all Brigades. As introductory to the subject I quote from my address delivered at the Tauranga Conference in February 1918, eleven years ago:—.

*‘A serious phase of, the defective .nozzle is the following: You may remember years ago I told you that, under certain conditions, water playing on a .fire was increasing the

fire instead of extinguishing it. ,A few weeks ago 1 was shown a photoI graph taken during the process of a disastrous fire that had occurred a short time previously. The photograph showed < wooden building well/,alight from /fop to bottom, and standing in the middle of the street a fireman holding a branch, the jet from which was spreading so badly that only a sheet of spray was loathing the fire. This was a case in point. Eiven groat heat and a spray of water and what happens is this: the spray is first converted into steam > then the steam becomes decomposed into its constituent, parts of .hydrogen and oxygen gases, and thus bringing into action practically " the same process as that of a 'modern invention now widely employed to- improve the combustion of inferior fuels and for intensifying furnace-fires. As an apt illustration of the principles set out above I have at times, for many

years past, cited the ordinary practice of the blacksmith, who, when lie wants to intensify and brighten up his lire, simply sprinkles it with a little water; and in that homely operation we have a practical demonstration of what happens under certain conditions, it instead of a solid jet merely spray is projected into the fire.”

In this “homely operation” originated my deduction as to what may happen at fires as a consequence of using small jets or defective nozzles, and 1 have never heard or seen in print any reference to this most important aspect of Fire Brigade work until, in the June 1928 issue of the journal “Fire,” in an article entitled “Chemistry of Fire,” inter alia, appeared the following: “Small Jet on a Big Eire.’' Toe presence of moisture—that is watei —.provided that it does not prevent access of air, materially assists oxidisation as typified by the heating oi masses of cotton, rags, sacks etc. Practically at fires of great intensity in the presence of masses of incandescent carbonaceous matter, a small proportion of the water thus played thereon, is broken up into its original- constituents. the oxygen combining with the carbon to form carbon monoxide, or dioxide, thus freeing the hydrogen This is practically liable to occur when small jets are played on a big hire. A large stream rapidly cools down the burning mass below the temperature of useful reaction.” The last paragraph quoted gives the scientific reason for the use of big jets and in coping with a big fire the object of every Brigade officer should be not to split up the watersupply into a number of jets of more or less, very often more, doubtful efficiency. but to promptly “get to work” at least one delivery, more if conditions permit. With the greatest volume and highest pressure the local conditions of tbe water supply will allow and in this respect- lies the value of the Deluge or Siamese “set.” Very few of our Brigades are equipped with a “Deluge Set” but the smallest Brigade can provide a good and very efficient substitute hv utilising their two into one breaching piece, and herein lies one phase of the great value , of doubling a line of hose. A certain well-known authority states that with a second line,of hose laid from pump or hydrant to breaching piece the water velocity is only half as much in cadi of the two lines, consequently the 10-ss of pressure is only one quarter as much as in the case of a single line, but as a result of mv own experiments and experiences at fires T am convinced that in practice with a short length of 2:jin. hose between breaching piece and branch the loss of nozzle pressure is greater than that stated, and set it down as between 35 and 45 per cent. As an example, 100 ft. of 2iin. hose and lin. nozzle with a flow discharge from pump or hydrant of 173 gallons per minute. Result, an efficient fire stream 65ft., 50 degrees elevation.- A second delivery, 200 ft. of hose from pump to breaching piece with ljin. nozzle and a short length of hose, gives a discharge of over 300 gallons per minute, and efficiene fire stream of

82 feet. An example of the use of long lines—10110ft. 2ii 11 . hose, sin. nozzle, 90lbs initial hydrant pressure' gives 201bs nozzle pressure, a discharge of 93 gallons per minute, fire stream 4011. We have lost a total of 601 hs pressure. Raying a second line ot hose from the hydrant to the nozzle wc get 651 hs nozzle pressure, with a discharge of |sl gallons per minute, a tire stream of 70ft and have only lost a pressure or 25lbs over all. A nil 111 her of other examples were also given. A little matter it would he well to caution you aliout. In travelling round J have noticed that quite a number of Brigade officers are now receiving one or other of the American Fire Journals. Now when reading, and presumably studying, such publications, it should be remembered that when quoting water capacities, the American gallon weighs only Blbs avoirdupois whereas the British or Imperial gallon weighs 101 b. Consequently, for instance, if the capacity of a pump-is given as 200 G.P.M. that is only equal to 100 British G.P.M.

CARELESSNESS. In December last. Mr Sidney Gamble Symonds read a paper before a Conference of Fire Appliances Manufacturers in the course of which he stated : “In this country about one third of the fires are caused by lights carelessly thrown down, and to children playing with fire and matches. Detective construction of oil, gas, candles and electricity are mainly responsible for the remainder. ’’ The apathy of the public in this country regarding fires and fire loss is most extraordinary and is, in fact, unique when compared with the interest taken in the subject on the Continent and America. The public interest in fire protection is not only nil, but worse than nil. Now we know that following a proclamation issued respectively by the President of the U.S.A. and the Gover-nor-General in Canada, a fire prevention iweek has been in operation for years past- in those two countries. In the reports of your Executive it is mentioned that a State Fire Prevention Bureau has been established. I would add to the list that very emphatic gentleman Signor Mussolini decided to have an annual Fire Day, and accordingly the first was held in September last. Further, President Yon Hindenburg has issued a mandate for the setting up of a commission in Germany to reduce their fire loss, and remember that in all the countries mentioned the fire losses are below, in most of them very much below, the per capita losses obtaining in New Zealand. Yet all the efforts of your Association, together with my own advocacy, for what it is worth, has so far at any rate, utterly failed to arouse tne public generally, and the business section of the community in particular, to any sense of their responsibility in this matter.

I am pleased to know, as indicated in your secretary’s report, that it is intended to follow up the question of having the subject of Education in Fire Prevention made compulsory, sprinkler and auto-detector fire

alarm system.—l have spoken and written so often and exhaustively in trying to make business people realise that installations of one or other of the systems secures almost certain immunity from serious loss of lire in all buildings so equipped, and with comparatively little result that 1 am rather tired of saving anything further on the subject, anti will only quote a short extract from my address to your Conference last year, and I hope your Executive will make this matter a plank in their platform ot your Association. A reference to fire plugs followed in the course of which it was stated that !o al bodies are responsible under the Municipal Corporations Act for keeping all fire pings in proper working order. Fire Police and their value to the oopimunity were also referred to at some length. A word or two in respect to this Competition programme.—Tt is perhaps not all it might be, but, is a big step in the right direction, and I would extend my sincere congratulations to your Executive in having taken the bull by the horns and trained a programme so much more up-to-date than lias hitherto prevailed. I cannot leave this subject without paying some little tribute to your very energetic Secret ary. Of late years I have of necessity been much in contact with Mr Watts, and consider him to be one of the most ca])able organisers J have known. Our relations have been most friendly, and at any time T. have ventured to make suggestions to him in respect to Association matters he has always treated me in the most courteous manner, and for that I now thank him. Let me tell you you are indebted to your secretary probably more than is within your knowledge, and I am absolutely convinced that were It not for the personal energies of that gentleman your Association would not be in the flourishing condition it is to-day. Captain Hugo concluded his address by intimating that the gathering would probably he the last occasion he would officially address the Conference, as lie purposed retiring from office at the end of June next. Ho took the occasion to thank members of the Executive and Conference for the manner in which they had always received him. ami the attention given, which lie deeply apreeiated, and he assured them that he would deeply feel the severance of the happy relations that had always existed in what was his life’s hobby.