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NOTE.--(See Description under Heading Turntable Ladders in Appendix Cattached). 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 1 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 l'ump 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 flongkong the pumps have always been worked from a dam in the past. The use of the dan 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 small mains as the draw off is too great and they are liable to empty the mains.
(c) Hose and Standpipes :
These will be augmented in proportion to the increase in the number of fire appliances.
(f) 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 longkong 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.
The couplings in use in the Brigade are 23" 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 bave personally never experienced any difficulty in connection with the couplings at preseal in use in the Brigade excepting the large sized hose.
In my recommendations concerning the flouts I am asking for automatic couplings for the 1" 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. (by 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 cau also be taken by short rontes to the scene of an outbreak along roads im- passable to Motor Pumps. In outlying districts where there is a good water supply. Despatch 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.
(j) Searchlights & Electric Torches,
It is proposed to introduce these for use at fires to supplement the kerosine flares at present in use.
(k) Street Fire Alarms.
There are 12 in all and they cover the principal points in the City. It is proposed to fit them up with telephones so that they may be used for Police purposes as well, but the new system must remain in abeyance until sufficient cable is received to secure an efficient service. It has been found in practice that they are very little user by the public, who prefer to use the ordinary public telephone when a fire occurs. It is not proposed to extend the system outside the City unless a greater use is made of the existing alarus in the future.
(1) Smoke Helmets:
A satisfactory pattern of smoke helmet has not yet been procured for local use but experiments are in progress,
B.-Equipment Å float.
The Floating equipment of the Fire Brigade consists of two Fire Floats :-
1 powerful steam float with monitor capable of discharging 3,000 gallons per minute or in the alternative 8 ordinary 24" deliveries and four 1" deliveries.
I small steam fout with 6 deliveries (2-4" and 4-29"),
| land steamer mounted on a poutonn (Aberdeen).
One float is always kept under banked fires ready to steam off to a fire on short notice. The second float is usually in reserve but is used to stand by at all Matshed Theatres situated near the water. This work also includes attendance at Matshed Plustres at places as far away as Aberdeen and Cheung Chau.
The land steamer mounted on a pontoon is used for fire protection at Aberdeen and Aplichan, this being the most satisfactory arrangement to safeguard these two villages, which are separated by Aberdeca Harbour.
It is not in my opinion necessary to supplement existing fire appliances allout by any further motor or steam fire eats at present. Fires on ships in the harbour ars fortunately of comparatively rare occurrence and in the circumstances, the very large outlay on a new motor fire float is not warranted by the work required. The two Fire Floats are quite capable of dealing with ordinary fires on ships in the harbour, ami should necessity arise, they can be supplemonted by the large tugs employed by the Hongkong Whampoa Dock Co. and Tai Koo Dock Co. both of which aud particularly the former have In this connection 1 recommend that an agreeineni very powerful fire pumps on board.
be entered into with the Companies concerned to place their tugs fitted with fire fighting appliances at the disposal of the Fire Brigade in cases of emergency and if available at the time. With this addition I am satisfied that the shipping in the harbour will be adequately protected against fire.
As
The bulk of the work of the floats is in connection with fires on land and, owing to the peculiar situation of the City of Victoria and Kowloon, the floats are of very great service either in fighting the flames direct or in supplying the motor pumps with water, thereby also saving fresh water which is a matter of importance in the dry season. the City and Kowloon both stretch out along the harbour for a great distance, the advisability of keeping both floats instead of one only under hanked fires in future and providing a full crew for the No. 2 float has been considered, and full crews are recom- mended for both. Que float would then do duty in Hongkong and one in Kowloon. The possibility of delay in getting across the harbour should thus be entirely eliminated. Certain improvements ou the floats are undoubtedly desirable. The re-arrangement of the hose lockers is receiving attention now, and will be taken in hand as soon as a satisfactory arrangement has been devised,
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