BEST MEANS OF EXTINGUISHING KEROSENE OIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5033, 11 May 1877, Page 3

BEST MEANS OF EXTINGUISHING KEROSENE OIL.

Below we print an opinion from Professor Biokerton, of the Christchurch Laboratory, on this subject. The Provincial Government of Canterbury last year asked the Professor for his opinion on the matter, and be replied that he had no data upon which to form an opinion, but that he would try and obtain information on the subject as early as possible. Since that time, however, he has made careful observations and experiments on the subject, the result of which upon his mind appears below:— “ It seems very probable that the chief cause of the explosions in kerosene lamps is from the carbon of the wick falling into the chambers below the domes. This becomes moistened with the oil, so that when the lamp is nearly empty and has become hot, this carbon ignites and the space under the dome becomes filled with flame. I have seen this occur several times. A lamp in this state is instantly extinguished by wrapping a handkerchief round the air grating. It is useless either to attempt to blow it out or turn down the wick. If the lamp be left in this state, the heat becomes so great ns often to fracture the glass cistern of the lamp, the oil ignites as it pours out from the broken lamp, instantly producing an immense sheet of flame. Tho lamp is generally said to have exploded when this happens ; but a true explosion very rarely occurs. The rapidity with which the flame spreads when a lamp is broken in this manner may be better understood when I describe what happened in my own house a few months ago. A lamp had been left in the bedroom by a servant who went downstairs; the nurse

coming up a short time afterwards, noticed an unusual light in the room ; on spelling the door she saw the table on fire for about a foot. This flame instantly spread, and ran down the drapery of the table to the floor. She instantly raised an alarm, and I was there in about a minute. The whole room appeared a mass of flame. I caught up the quilt from the bed and threw it on the floor, and over one aide of the table, and threw some water over the quilt. I then threw the blankets one by one over the other parts of the table and floor, throwing water over them as it was brought me. In less than a minute no vestige of fire remained. The lamp was found to be in three pieces. The drapery of the table was entirely burnt, but the bedclothes themselves were very slightly singed. “ The following experiments were made : Half-a-piutof kerosene was heated, and thrown down upon a board aud ignited. An immense flame was produced ; water was thrown upon it, for an instant the flame rose very much higher, but diminished directly. Pieces of old carpet were thrown upon the flame; wherever the carpet covered the flame it was immediately extinguished. Some more hot oil was thrown upon china matting; the flame spread very rapidly, but water was equally effectual in extinguishing it instantly. “A very large surface of burning oil was obtained, aud pieces of carpet placed upon portions of the blazing mass. A considerable time elapsed before the flame spread to the carpet ; it was found the flame could be quickly extinguished by putting out a small part at a time, .leaving the carpet upon it. If the carpet was'wetted slightly the flame did not spread back at all. “ About a pint of oil was spread upon a heap of straw aud ignited. After allowing it to burn some time, a piece of old felt carpet was drawn over it, and the flame was smothered instantly. Thus it seems that the best way to proceed in the case of burning oil is to throw a blanket or cloth over it, wetting the cloth as soon as possible. The next best thing is dust of any kind, and water is also (contrary to commonly received notions) very efficacious in extinguishing the oil. There can be no doubt that as kerosene floats on water and spreads instantly to an enormous extent, with large quantities of burning oil it might be dangerous ; and with more volatile oils, such as benzine, &c., it might also be dangerous ; but from the high temperature at which kerosene boils, the water cools it below this point, and so extinguishes it. X think that it is clear that in case of the bursting of a lamp, if no clothes, blankets, carpets, &c., are obtainable, it is quite safe to use water. An experiment was made on a small lamp to try and cause it to burst by heat. The lamp was lit under the dome by pouring some hot kerosene in it; it continued to burn, being fed from the lamp, and in a short time the top was melted from the bottom and the lamp burnt from the hole in the cistern; on attempting to lift it up with tongs it fell to pieces on the ground; a large flame was the result, which was immediately extinguished by a little water. “ Rules. “ Keep the lamps well filled, well trimmed, and clean, especially noticing that there is no carbon under the dome, “ When the lamp is burning below, wrap a cloth or handkerchief about the air-holes, and so smother it. “ If a lamp bursts or falls, instantly throw over it the nearest carpets, tablecloths, blankets, &c., and pour water on them; if no cloths are obtainable, throw on dust, salt, or sand; and lastly, if these are not obtainable, water is much better than nothing. “A W. Bickerton. “ Canterbury College Laboratory, “April 19, 1877.”’