New Crash Tender At Hokitika Aerodrome

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1949, Page 8

New Crash Tender At Hokitika Aerodrome

During the past two weeks the staff of National Airways, at Hokitika, have been under instruction in the use of a recently acquired crash tdnder. The tuition has been given by Mr L. Scott, fire-fighting instructor for the Civil Aviation Department in New Zealand. The crash tender is not like an ordinary fire-engine. It has a three-ton chassis and is mainly equipped with chemical extinguishers of a foam type, 150 feet of hose, and carries all equipment necessary for rescue operations such as bolt cutters and stretchers etc. Three hundred gallons of water is carried on the tender, while four 501 b bottles of carbon dioxide fill the extinguishers. To test the knowledge of the staff a “try out’- was held on Friday, when a bonfire made up of old tyres and various other inflammable materials was Jit on the outer edge of the ’drorne; One fireman attired in a new type of fire-proof asbestos suit made a successful “make believe” rescue from the centre of the flames. With the aid of the equipment the fire was soon quickly extinguished.