ATTACKING SMALL FIRES

Southland Times, Issue 24827, 20 August 1942, Page 6

ATTACKING SMALL FIRES

COMBATING ENEMY RAIDS Special arrangements have been made by the E.P.S. to deal with fires caused by enemy attack, but everyone should know how to deal promptly with small fires. Every fire began as a small fire. Be ready to deal with a fire in its earliest stages. One person can operate a stirrup or bucket pump, but where more are available,

they should be organized on the recognized team method. No. 1 is the leader and carries the axe and lamp (if available), also a filled water bucket if necessary. No. 2 brings the pump. No. 3 carries two filled water buckets. In fighting the fire, No. 1 directs the jet on to the seat of the flame. The fire caused by the bomb should be got under control first, then the bomb itself attacked and put out, afid finally, all smouldering remains thoroughly soaked with water and completely extinguished. No. 2 operates the pump, and No. 3 keeps the water supply replenished, at the same time keeping a watch for any other fires in the building. The positions should be changed whenever necessary.

A thorough search should be made of any building in which there is the slightest reason to suspect that an incendiary bomb has fallen. It is a mistake to rush out into the street to extinguish a fire bomb in the open and leave a building unwatched. On entering a building to attack any fire, steps should be taken to ensure that the gas has been turned off at the ,main. The electricity main, on the other hand, should be turned off only when it has definitely been decided to leave or abandon the building, and then by the last person to leave the premises.