HOW TO PUT OUT A FIRE BOMB

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 13

HOW TO PUT OUT A FIRE BOMB

Tools And Technique A WARDEN AND HIS TENNIS BALL

Practice For Housewives

(BY

GUARDSMAN.)

Already the course of lectures m emergence fire-lighting. at present being conducted by the Wellington Fire Brigade, is producing results. home hundreds of citizens—members ot Emergency Precautions Scheme units —have been introduced to the problem of tlie incendiary bomb. They have been given practical advice as to how to cope with a weapon, which, in the event of an attack on Wellington, is likely to bo Public Enemy No. 1 of tne bomb family. . There are no actual incendiary bombs available in Wellington for demonstration purposes. This week, however, city corporation experts have been able to produce a fair imitation by burning loose thermite. This was done on Thursday evening at the central hre station, where hundreds of E.P.S. men watched thermite (with which incendiary bombs are loaded) burn through steel plates like a knife cutting through cheese, and charring wood planks. A Home Demonstration.

These men have also received detailed instruction on the fighting of incendiary bombs. As a result a number of enthusiasts have stated their intention of holding “tire-bomb drill” hi their homes for the benefit of their families. One E.P.S. man—a sub-area chief warden-—is planning a home demonstration for the edification of his committee. Duties have been allotted to the members of his household who, at a given signal, will act as though a raid wen 1 in progress, and an incendiary bomb had struck and entered the building. A leimis bull dipped in Hour will bo this warden's "bomb.” When Hie signal is given lie will throw it at random inside the house. The spot whole it lands will lie the seat of the •'lire. His wife, his son and the maid will do the rest. This warden argues that in the event of an emergency his family may have to fend for themselves. He, like other E.I’.S. workers, and many male citizens, may be elsewhere. _ _ ’The civic authorities are giving every encouragement to this sort ot preparation —indeed, it is an essential part of the emergency scheme. Not merely E.P.S. workers, but all people, and especially housewives, should know how to ileal' with incendiary bombs They are most likely to be at home if and when the bombs fall. They and their children must know what to do. The secret of dealing with an incendiarv bomb is to get on the job quickly, with the right tools, used in the right way. Danger of Empty House.

If the rules are followed without delay there is a good chance of preventing destructive lire. The most vulnerable house in an incendiary bomb raid is the unoccupied or unwatched house. Next comes the house the occupants of which are unduly frightened of incendiary bombs and do not know how to cope with them. As part of their encouragement to householders the city authorities are providing—free to those who will come and get it—dry sand for storage in the home in a dry, convenient place. In addition to sand, kept in a bucket or similar container, every householder should have on band: A long-handled shovel. A rake, preferably one with a conveniently narrow head. A pair of gardening gloves or other heavy-duty gloves. Au' electric torch. These articles, plus the sand, are the essential emergency equipment for dealing with incendiary bombs. Householders who practise the correct use of the equipment, may do so in this manner:— Use a Dummy Bomb. Choose some suitable object to represent the bomb. It had better be about 9in. long and 2in. in diameter, round, and weighing about 21b. The electric torch would do. The warden’s tennis ball, referred to above, will serve better to mark a spot at random —not as the bomb. Place the “bomb" somewhere in Hie house, assuming it Ims penetrated the roof and ceiling. Approach the “burning” bomb with the sand bucket and pour about threequarters of the sand in the bucket on to the floor in front of the bomb —-for practice purposes two or three feet away from the bomb, that being as near as one can expect to get to a real burning bomb. Do not throw the sand out of the bucket on to the bomb. Leave the bucket, a quarter full of sand, nearby. Take the shovel in one hand and the rake in the ether. Using the shovel, work the sand on the floor forward on to and round the bomb, taking eaie to keep a layer of sand on the shovel so that the steel is not molted by the bomb. When the bomb has sand round and over it. thrust the sanded shovel under it and quickly but neatly draw it on to the shovel with the rake. Then carry it swiftly to the bucket and drop it iii. Try to keep an inch depth of said between the bomb and the shovel while this is being done. Carry the bucket outside and empty the bomb and the sand on-some spot, such as a concrete or brick path, whole the bomb can burn out harmlessly. Don’t forget to leave a quarter of the sand in the bucket; otherwise when the bomb is placed in the bucket it will burn through the bottom almost at once. Remember that an incendiary bomb burns through metal very quickly but burns wood comparatively slowly. Powdered clay or oven garden earth mav be used in a:i emergency as a substitute for sand, but it must bo bone dry. . Water makes nn incendiary _ bonih burn faster, and is only used in the form of a fine spray by those trained in the hand or stirrup-pump method of finhting incendiary bombs. This method is another story. Those who. this weekend, decide to make a beginning with their household lire drill had bolter concern themselves only with die routine as described. If they perfect ilia!, they will have made an excellent beginning.