RATTRAY STREET FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 20314, 24 October 1929, Page 2

RATTRAY STREET FIRE

IE PUT ON WATER PRESSURE USE OF EXISTING FIRE-FIGHTING PLANT A report by the city engineer regarding the water pi essure during tho recent fire in Messrs Usherwood and Co’s premises in lower Rattray street was submitted to the meeting of the Ciy Council last night by Cv W. Begg (Chairman of the Water Committee) . The report was as follows: “It is obvious that, throughout the ramifications of the reticulation of he city, the pressure must vary from normal during each day, being lower during tho working hours of the day, and higher during the night, varying according to the local demand. The pressure is lower the farther any particular point is removed from the larger trunk mains which feed the reticulation. These variations in pressure occur in every reticulation system. “ The pressure is recorded continuously, day and night, in the city engineer’s offi'-e at the Town Hall by an automatic recording gauge, and a similar gauge is installed in the Fire Brigade Station The pressure recorded on the gauge at the Fire Brigade Station at the time of the fire was between 701 b and 801 b, and on the gauge at the Town Hall about 101 b less, owing to tne different® in. level of tho two gauges. These pressures are the sunn, as are recorded by these gauges at the same time on other week days , “ The conditions regarding the pressure available are therefore known to the officers of the Fire Brigade, and they should also know that the main in lower Rattray street, cast of the cross wharf, is a 4in main, and that hydrants on a single 4in main, 670 r< away from the larger 7in main feeding the 4in, cannot, with 701 b to 801 b pressure in the larger main, feed foui leads of 2'in hose and large nozzles adequately to deal with a fire of the magnitude of the one in question without the use of the fire engine coupled in to draw water from the main and boost up the pressure. It is impracticable to increase the pressure in the reticulation mains in the absence oi larger feeder mains at present. The provision of new large mains, and the remodelling of the reticulation, would involve great expense and would take considerable time to effect. A much more speedy, economical, and practical course is to make use of the existing fire fighting plant, and, if_ necessary, to supplement it with additional plant. “Tho order of connecting hydrants to the mains is stated by tho Fire Brigade superintendent to have been, first, two loads olf the plug of the 4in main in Rattray street, then two leads off tho next plug on the same main. These fom leads were then reduced to three, and another lead taken off the 3in main in Willis street, which was afterwards shifted at tho suggestion of a waterman to the 4in main in the same street.”