FIRE WALKING UP-TO-DATE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21404, 21 February 1935, Page 18

FIRE WALKING UP-TO-DATE

BRITISH DEMONSTRATION USE OF ASBESTOS AS A SHIELD LONDON. January 12. With the rapid development of civil aviation all over the world the equipment of airports and aerodromes with efficient fire-fighting plant, is a matter of the highest importance. Unfortunately, whenever an aeroplane crashes there is the ever present possibility of fire breaking out, and it is highly desirable, therefore, that the most efficient mehods should be universally available for safeguarding the human lives and valuable material so involved. To this end an extremely interesting demonstration was held recently before a number of officials of civil aerodromes and well-known personages in the aircraft and motor industries at Slough, when the application of asbestos materials for fire prevention, protection and fighting was shown in a most impressive manner. For the demonstration, a special tunnel' had been constructed, 4ft 6in wide and 9ft high. A considerable quantity of wood-wool and wood, soaked in oil and paraffin, was laid at one end and was lit. By means of large suction fans, the flames were drawn right down the tunnel, and when the blaze was at its height, a modern "Shadrach," clothed in an asbestos suit, gloves, boots, and helmet, walked slowly through the "fiery furnace" and emerged completely unscathed. The fire was again allowed to grow in intensity and, at a given signal, an asbestos curtain was dropped close to the seat of the fire. It was then possible without discomfort to walk right up to the curtain, on the other side of which the flames were blazing furiously; a simple measure for instantaneously isolating a fire. Subsequently, a fierce blaze of wood-wool soaked in petrol was started in the open, and it was demonstrated how an asbestos shield fitted with a mica window could be used to approach right up to the fire. Finally, the fire was extinguished by smothering with an asbestos sheet, a method which commended itself to Brooklands racing drivers present, with recollections of disastrous outbreaks in cars on the well-known track.