INCENDIARY BOMBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1941, Page 4

INCENDIARY BOMBS

EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER INSTRUCTIVE DEMONSTRATION IN WELLINGTON. MEMBERS OF CABINET PRESENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A further demonstration of the use of water from hose, pump and bucket in extinguishing incendiary bombs of magnesium-thermit fired type was given this morning at the Wellington Central Fire Station, before the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), his colleagues, Messrs Sullivan, Jones and Wilson and the heads of several Government Departments. The demonstration proved conclusively that water, used in any form in quantity, is by far the most expeditious and effective method of extinguishing incendiary bombs of this type, though sand still has a value in retarding the violence of the flame of the bomb. Both standard incendiary bombs and explosive incendiaries were extinguished during the tests. It has always been stated that to throw a jet of water, as distinct from a spray of water, on an incendiary bomb is most dangerous. In fact the bombs were extinguished within seconds by a straight jet. The Prime Minister said the demonstrations had impressed him with the efficacy of the methods and had proved how comparatively simply they could be extinguished if people were on the spot to reach them where they fell. Foi’ that reason property-owners should maintain a constant watch upon buildings. Mr Fraser easily put out two blazing bombs ■ by dropping them in a bucket of water.