FIRE PUMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1939, Page 11

FIRE PUMPS

ON THE WATERFRONT

BOARD'S EQUIPMENT

DEMONSTRATION GIVEN

Back at the turn of the century, when the cry of "fire" was raised, Wellingtonians would hurry out to see a handsome red fire engine, boldly decked with brass, speeding through the streets as fast as the well-groomed, galloping horses could drag it. The old steam pumps are still in action, but they are how installed in the Wellington Harbour Board's dredge Kerimoana, giving her. the very useful added capacity of fire float. The Harbour Board has obtained a considerable. quantity of new firefighting equipment which can be used, if necessary, to supplement the plant provided by the Central Fire Brigade, or to deal with fires on the waterfront. Equipment now possessed by the Harbour Board includes pumps on the Toia, the pumps on the Kerimoana, a portable petrol-driven pump, and four foam-making branch pipes, complete with hose and liquid compound, for dealing with oil and other types of fire. The portable pump which is part of the new purchases can deliver about 500 gallons per minute against 1001b per square inch. It is extremely mobile, and can easily be handled or towed by lorry or tractor to any part of the j waterfront. Fitted with a long suction- hose, it is capable of lifting sea water at any state of the tide and at any wharf, and it can be brought into operation in a very short time. FITTED ON DREDGE. Now that the board has the petroldriven pump, the pump from the old steam fire engine has been fitted on the dredge. The fire engine was bought in 1901, but was discarded as it took too long to raise steam and bring it into action, and the maintenance costs were high. The pump is, however, a very fine machine, and is able to deliver 1000 gallons a minute under 1201b pressure. The Toia's main fire pump is capable of delivering 2000 gallons of sea water per minute against a pressure of 2001b per square inch and this stream can be delivered in a single jet through a swivelling monitor or through six hose connections. In addition, the/salvage pump, which can deliver 3500' gallons per minute against a 50ft head, can be used to pump se? water ashore if _it is 'necessary to supplement the city water supply. A foam -making branch pipe for combating oil fires is carried. On the Queen's Wharf this morning all the Harbour Board's equipment was on display, and a demonstration was given to an audience of representatives of oil companies, the Fire Brigade, the State Fire "Office, shipping . companies, members of the Harbour Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and other bodies. General satisfaction was expressed with the efficiency of the equipment and , those handling it. , >.