FIRE BOMBS

Grey River Argus, 27 December 1941, Page 1

FIRE BOMBS

METHODS FOR TRIPLE SAFETY. WELLINGTON, Dec. 24. A Wellington shopkeeper asked a question that must have been raised in the minds of many after reading the description of the Russian method of disposing of incendiary bombs by simple dumping them into a bucket of wafer.

“Why advocate putting in equipment for all three methods —bucket, sand, and spray—when the bucket is so good?” asked. Tne answer is this:

1 Drop the Bomb in the Bucket of water, or throw it out of the window (where there is clear space) when the bomb is spotted and tackled in the first minute.

2. UW Sand, Rake, and Shovel where the bomb has got such a start that it cannot be. picked up by hand. Or you can use a spray. 3. Use the Spray-jet for bombs that lodge in places cut of reach or among combustible material. The spray is for tire bomb and the Jet is for the fire started by the bomb. The thermit-magnesium bomb creates a blinding glare and may throw sputtering particles. The Wellington lire officers are designing a simple full-face mask which can be made of readily obta'inably materials. The design will be published and fire guards will be instructed to make or obtain them for facial protection.

What is of supreme importance is that fir e bombs must be tackled immediately they can be reached. That is why roof spotters and lire watches on evrey floor are so essential. That is why also someone should remain near every home. When the public Demonstration is made and a film made at the Central Fire Station is hurried through its processing and screened, p'ebple will realise how simple fighting of thermit-magnesium lire bombs is, always provided that they are tackled immediately they' can b e reached The film will be of such imperative educative value that it might well be screened during lunch hours or on out-of-door screens. Meanwhile the first .thing to do is to complete the organisation of house fire guards to install equipment, even if most of it has to be improvised. Superintendent Woolley, of the Wellington Fire Board, is most insistent upon the necessity for oganisation in every building and the provision of equipment on every floor and in every home. “Fill siteable container with water and have your sand and hose or bucket pumps* where they can be reached most 'quickly. The first 60 seconds count most,” he said again to-day.