A FIRE ASHORE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 8

A FIRE ASHORE

WHAT SAILORS ENJOY INSPECTION OF LONDON FIREMEN. (won ocr own correspondent.) LOHDON, 14th July. An immense crowd of spectators was present at Victoria ' Park, Hackney, when Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe "took the salute at the annual inspection of the London Fire Brigade and presented the awards."

Lord Jellicoe, who was accompanied .by Lady Jellicoe, was received on his arrival with musical honours, and he proceeded at once to inspect a guard of honour of about 150 men, three of whom were at different times shipmates of his own in the Royal Navy. Strangely enough, at the very moment he began his inspection, there was a district call, which occasioned ths immediate withdrawal of one of the senior officers to attend a warehouse outbreak in the city. In all there were about 300 men on parade, drawn from the various L.C.O. stations, and all under the command of the chief officer of the brigade, Mr. A. R. Dyer. During the latter part of the proceedings they gave a very interesting demonstration, including the evolutions of the fully-manned vehicles, displays in the use of sundry extinguishing appliances, and mimic fire-fighting and rescue work at an improvised burning building. For this last-named act a four-story structure had been erected in the centre of the ground.' The cleverness of the work was as remarkable as the speed with which it was performed.

In a brief address to. all ranks Lord Jellicoe said the London Fire Brigade was noted throughout the world for its magnificent courage and efficiency, and they ought to be" proud of belonging to such a brigade. The greater part of the personnel had been drawn from men who had been in the Services, and, as the medals which many of them were wearing showed, they had rendered noteworthy service to the King and the Empire. It was a great pleasure to notice that amongst .them was a large number from the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Reserve. The comradeship which served so well during the war, and which would not allow mea to let down a. pal or anyone else—(cheers) — had led them to take part in. the great work of saving ilfe. "From my experience afloat there is nothing a sailor enjoys more than a fire ashore. We in the Service sometimes look forward to a call to put out a fire on shore. It is a change from the ship routine, and it gives the men opportunities to show what they are worth." Perhaps it is not surprising that when they are leaving the Service many of them should decide to join the Fire Brigade. (Laughter and cheers.) The last award, that of the cup given by Sir Edward Smith in 1905 for the smartest average time of turning out for each year, was made to the men from "B" watch, Redcross Street Fire Station. Their average was 15.67 seconds, in which time the first two appliances had left the station in all the test calls over a period of twelve months.

Lord jellicoe said the London Fire Brigade was known throughout the world for its efficiency and courage; He was not surprised to find that the greater part of its officers and men were drawn from the Services. He had seldom seen such a fine display of Tibbons as he. saw on the breasts of those before him. It was perhaps an additional pleasure to one who had been sailor all his life to find among the members of the brigade such a large number of men of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Reserve. (Cheers.) The men moved off to the music of their own band, leaving a clear field.for the motor equipment drawn up in the rear. There were eight escapes, each capable of reaching a height, of 55ft; eight motor pump?, capable of throwing 500 gallons a minute, carrying light hook ladders; two turn-table ladders which reach ,to 85ft; and a foam lorry with an emergency tender. These two latter represent the latest developments in equipment. The foam lorry throws a stream of solutions chemically prepared to extinguish flames, and the tender contains special apparatus, such as electric cutting gear, for dealing with modern buildings.