246
4
L
new Ambulances which are on order and which are now included in the Fire Service. It is considered that the Motor Ambulance service can most profitably be attached to the Fire Brigade as it is in London. A Motor Mechanic is also added and allowance is made for an Engineer with the requisite technical knowledge who will be attached to the Brigade. Further it is essential that a proper staff of Interpreters and Telephon Clerks should now be provided. Each European officer is therefore provided with an Interpreter as in the Sanitary Department. These Interpreters will also do the clerical work of the Brigade. The Telephone Clerks will provide an uninterrupted telephone service to answer calls at both stations, e.g., Headquarters and Kowloon.
Drivers.-There are 15 at present of whom 5 are professional chauffeurs and 10 European Policemen. It is proposed to provide two drivers for each machine. Ther will be before the end of 1921:
2 Motor Tenders.
5 Motor Pumps.
requiring 20 drivers in all
3 Motor Ambulances. 10 1st Class at $480-8600 p.a. 10 2nd Class at $360-8420 p.a.
Good drivers cannot be got under $40 p.m. but the Brigade can train its own men as has been done in the past and thus obtain new men at a cheaper rate than outside.
8. It will be necessary to retain the steam engine drivers and stokers as they are required to man :---
(a) Steam Fire float at Aberdeen.
(b)
(c)
(d)
J7
H
13
engine at Kowloon required as a stand by or for small fires.
Shaukiwau.
Un Long, New Territories.
These engines though small are still quite serviceable for the protection of outlying places. The floating engines will be taken over by the Superintendent of the Brigade and both floats will have full crews and be kept under banked fires, one float will be stationed on the Victoria and the other on the Kowloon side of the harbour. This arrangement will make it possible for one float to attend land fires near the shore with the least possible delay, and both will be available for ship fires. The Estimate of personnel allows for this new arrangement.
(II.)-Equipment.
Recent comments have laid stress on the inadequate equipment of the Fire Brigade, particularly afloat. I propose to deal with equipment :-
A. on land
B. afloat
C. Fire Stations.
A. EQUIPMENT ON LAND.
The land equipment of the Brigade consists at present of :--
Motor Tender 1 (Victoria) with portable extension ladder 50 feet. Motor Pumps 3 (Victoria 2, Kowloon 1).
The Kowloon Motor Pump carries a portable Extension ladder 45 feet. Steam Fire Engines:-4
Kowloon
Shaukiwan
Aberdeen (float)
1 1 1
Un Long, New Territories. 1
Husereels 4 (Kowloon and Victoria) these will gradually be done
away with,
Hose 27,770 feet (Victoria and Kowloon).
Hose Despatch Boxes, 11 for outlying districts and for incipient
outbreaks of fire.
·
5
Standpipes, Nozzles, 58 standpipes and 60 nozzles.
Each Machine carries:-No. 1. Machine 2,000 feet of hose.
No. 2. No. 3. No. 4.
11
"
1,400 800
800 11
11
The plant required to deal successfully with large outbreaks of fire or with two or more simultaneous outbreaks, such as have occurred on several occasions recently is as follows:-
(a) 2 Motor Tenders
(6) 6 Motor Pumps 4 with extension ladders
(c) 2 Turntable Ladders (85 feet Extension ladders)...
VICTORIA. KOWLOON.
1
1
4
2
2
(d) 3 Way heads for connecting suction direct to mains (one per pump).
(e) Hose, Standpipes, etc., in proportion to number of appliances.
(f) Nozzles. New nozzles with sprays and control as required. (g) Couplings.
(7) Hose Reels and Hose Despatch Boxes-Nil.
(j) Searchlights and Electric Torches :-as required.
(k) Street Fire Alarms. (Victoria only at present: at important points). (1) Sinoke Helmets.
Taking the items in their order :-
(a) Motor Tenders,-No: 2.
One tender is old but still quite serviceable (Victoria). It carries a 50 feet ladder which will require renewal shortly as it is nearly
worn out. Provision for this exists in the 1921 Estimates.
A tender is being provided in Kowloon by remodelling a large touring car recently acquired.
(6) Motor Pumps (Turbine),-No: 6.
3 are already in use. 2 of them are almost new. 2 are on order from England (Dennis pattern) and provision for these has been made in the 1921 Estimates. A supplementary vote will be required ($16,600) to cover increased prices and difference in rate of Exchange. 1 further pump is required and should be provided for in the 1992 Estimates. This will give 4 pumps for Victoria and 2 for Kowloon which should be ample.
(e) Turntable Ladders,-No: 2.
These ladders are necessary to increase the efficiency of the Brigade in dealing with outbreaks in large buildings. The Brigade has none at present. They are worked electrically from a turntable on the chassis and are fitted with a nozzle which is fixed to the top rung of the ladder. The hose is connected to the nozzle and the fireman takes his place on the ladder before it is extended. The fireman works from the top of the ladder which is not placed against a wall and thus saves the running of hose through adjoining buildings au consequent damage by water. The ladder can be used as an escape in the usual manner. The length of the ladders used by the London Fire Brigade when fully extended is 85 feet. The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance provides for the supply of adequate escapes in large premises and these must necessarily be the direct means of escape in all buildings exceeding 4 stories as fire escapes cannot be effectively used for the upper stories of such buildings. Fixel escapes should be provided on the verandahs of the buildings where such exist. They should take the form of iron or re-inforced concrete staircases from floor to floor. Vertical ladders are dangerous.
¦.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.