XN000022-1974-08-28 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1974

FIRE SERVICES GET NEW SNORKEL

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FIRE FIGHTING CAPABILITIES OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN ENHANCED BY THE ADDITION OF A THIRD 85-FOOT SNORKEL CELEVATED HYDRAULIC PLATFORM).

THE NEW APPLIANCE, WHICH ARRIVED BY SHIP AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THE FIRE SERVICES WORKSHOP AT NORTH POINT AND WILL SOON BE PUT INTO SERVICE.

COSTING A TOTAL OF $600,000, IT IS SIMILAR IN DESIGN TO TWO OTHER SNORKELS PURCHASED MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO.

FEATURES INCLUDE A CAGE WITH A STEEL CANOPY FOR PROTECTION AGAINST FALLING OBJECTS, A RE-DESIGNED CAB TO ALLOW CREW EASIER ACCESS AND GREATER FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, AND A GROUND-TO-CAGE BREATHING SYSTEM WITH OUTLETS TO WORKING FIREMEN AND FACILITIES TO EXTEND AIR LINES INTO BUILDINGS. LADDERS CAN BE FITTED TO THE SIDE OF THE BOOMS TO ALLOW RESCUED PERSONS TO REACH THE GROUND WITHOUT THE PLATFORM HAVING TO LEAVE ITS FIRE FIGHTING OR RESCUE POSITION.

THE SNORKEL, WHICH CAN REACH MAXIMUM HEIGHT IN ONLY 100 SECONDS, IS EQUIPPED WITH A 500-GALLONS-PER-MINUTE WATER PUMP. A LIFTING EYE FITTED BENEATH THE CAGE HAS A CAPACITY OF 800 LBS.

THE CHASSIS WAS MANUFACTURED BY E.R.F. LIMITED AND THE SNORKEL BY SIMON ENGINEERING. BOTH ARE UNITED KINGDOM COMPANIES.

A FURTHER SNORKEL, WITH AN ELEVATION OF 91 FEET, IS ON ORDER AND DELIVERY IS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT YEAR. ALSO ON ORDER ARE TWELVE 50-FOOT SNORKELS FROM DENNIS MOTORS LIMITED, AND THESE ARE ALSO DUE FOR DELIVERY EARLY IN 1975.

A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID THE MAIN VALUE OF SNORKELS IS THEIR FLEXIBILITY. THEY CAN MANOEUVRE FROM SIDE TO SIDE OR UP AND DOWN AND CAN BE USED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS AT A FIRE SCENE.

WATER CUT ****

A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN YAUMATI AND SHAMSHUIPO WILL BE WITHOUT WATER FOR FIVE HOURS STARTING FROM 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY (AUGUST 30) WHEN TESTS FOR LEAKAGE WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE TWO DISTRICTS.

IN YAUMATI, PREMISES BOUNDED BY JORDAN ROAD, THE SEA FRONT, MAN CHEONG STREET, SAIGON STREET AND CANTON ROAD WILL BE AFFECTED.

THE AFFECTED AREA IN SHAMSHUIPO IS BOUNDED BY CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, KIU KIANG STREET, TAI PO ROAD AND KWEILIN STREET.

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