FIRE FIGHTING METHODS DEMONSTRATED

Taupo Times, Volume V, Issue 209, 3 February 1956, Page 1

FIRE FIGHTING METHODS DEMONSTRATED

Anniversarv Day Display It was unfortunate that the Fire Day display held in the Domain 011 Monday afternoon, and organised by the Taupo County Office and the Taupo Borough Council, was hampered by frequent heavy showers. But despite this over fifty cars were parked round the ground and over two hundred people saw an interesting display of tire fighting techniques all of which are applicable to and actually used in the district. The demonstration commenced with a parade of fifteen fire-fighting vehicles of various sorts, headed by the Taupo Volunteer Fire Brigade's Landrover fire engine. Leaving the Brigade on the sounding of the Brigade's fire sirens at 2.15 p.m., the parade with sirens sounding, passed down Tongariro Street, along the Lakefront, up Kaimanawa Street and down to the Domain via the Spa road and Tongariro Street. Tn the Domain a loud-speaker was used to describe the various displays. Among these were a three man drill display and ladder display by the Taupo Brigade, and spectators were impressed with the speed with which the hoses were brought into action. The Rotorua Fire Brigade's team display ed and demonstrated two types of modern breathing apparatus, one using compressed air and one oxygen, and a resuscitator using either oxygen alone.or oxygen and air. The use of a small portable pump delivering 65 gallons a minute and carried by two men was also demonstrated. N.Z. Forest Service unit from 60/8, Iwitahi, gave an interesting demonstration of pumping water from the Lake to the Domain, where the local Brigade put a booster pump in the hose line, and water was fed through a number of hoses. The value of radio to fire-fighting was brought home by this demonstration, for the pump crew on the Lake Beach some distanee away and out of sight, was in two way communication with the control tower in the Domain, with the aid of equipment supplied by courtesy of Mr Y. T. Fail, of Pine Products Ltd. Orders and directions from the control tower, and replies from the pump unit crew, could be heard over the loud-speaker. Another interesting demonstration by the Forest Service men showed the way in which portable dams of canvas can be set up to which water may be pumped for fire-fighting purposes. Owing to the ground being very wet from the heavy rain a demonstration of the Holger-Nielsen method of artifical respiration used in drowning cases, to have been given by Mr A. Kennedy, of the St John Ambulance organisation, was not held. Mr A. H. O'Keefe, Taupo County Commissioner, thanked the Brigades and services for their attendance and demonstrations, ably given under trying conditions. Following the demonstration the visitors and others taking part were entertained at afternoon tea at the Taupo Fire Brigade Station by the Borough and County, and the Mayor, Mr J. E. Storey, returned thanks for the display they had given. The demonstration was under the control of Station-Officer Henderson, Rotorua Fire Brigade, other units and representatives present being those of Pine Products Ltd., Mr Y. T. Fail ; N.Z. Forest Service, Iwitahi, Mr M. Weekes ; N.Z. Forest Products Ltd., Mr O'Connor (Atiamuri) ; Tuwharetoa Rural Fire District, Mr Pat Maniapoto ; Taupo Yolunteer Fire Brigade, Superintendent R. Douglas ; Taupo County Rural Fire Authority. The loud-speaker commentary was

given by Mr Alan McLean, who also made several circuits of the town with this equipment prior to the display, announcing the demonstration. , Traffic and parking at the Domain was under the control of the men of the Taupo Troop. Legion of Frontiersmen, who were wearing their fire-police armlets for the first tiihe since their recent appointment as fire-police.