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NOTE.--(See Description under Heading Turntable Ladders in Appendix C attached). The cost of each machine used by the London Fire Brigade was £2,300 (pre-war prices). Owing to the great cost of these machines it would be advisable to purchase I only for the present (1922 Estimates) and if successful, a second one could be purchased later. They would be for use in Victoria only.
(d) 3 Way Collecting heads :
It is proposed to carry one of these on each Motor Pump so as to pump direct from the mains thereby making use of the pressure in the mains to help the pump. This system is in general use in England where the mains are sufficiently large. In Hongkong the pumps have always been worked from a dam in the past. The use of the dam means a certain waste of water and loss of pressure in the mains, but it must be remembered that Motor pumps cannot be worked direct off sinal mains as the draw off is too great and they are liable to empty the mains.
() Hose and Standpipes:
These will be augmented in proportion to the increase in the number of fire appliances.
(†) Nozzles.
It is proposed to purchase a number of new nozzles fitted with controls and also sprays. The former are of great assistance to firemen wishing to change their position, as they can turn off the jet of water at the nozzle without having to signal to the Driver at the pump.
All pumps in use or on order for Hongkong are built on models which make the use of the control possible without running the risk of bursting the hose. The sprays are useful to protect firemen who have to work very close to the fire or to play on smoul- dering ruins.
(9) Couplings.
4
The couplings in use in the Brigade are 28" with a machined round thread of " pitch similar to the London Fire Brigade. It has been suggested that automatic couplings are better and should be introduced. In this connection I beg to draw attention to the final paragraph of Appendix C in which the Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade expresses his disagreement with this view except for the large hose used on floats. The same opinion was given to me by other Fire Officials who state that the springs in the automatic couplings give a great deal of trouble. I have personally never experienced any difficulty in connection with the couplings at present in use in the Brigade excepting the large sized hose.
In my recommendations concerning the floats I am asking for automatic couplings for the 4" hose.
(h) (a) Hose Reels, and (b) Hose Despatch Boxes.
The introduction of motor traction has rendered (a) unnecessary. They are therefore being done away with. (b) A number of despatch boxes which contain hose, standpipes and nozzles are still retained at all Fire Stations and Police Stations so that an outbreak adjacent to the Station can be tackled by the use of the street hydrants while the Motor Pumps are getting into position. The Despatch Boxes can also be taken by short routes to the scene of an outbreak along roads im- passable to Motor Pumps. In outlying districts where there is a good water supply, Despatchi Boxes are also maintained for the same reason. They are handled by the Police and make it possible to get to work at once on an outbreak before the arrival of the Brigade.