INCENDIARY BOMBS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24838, 11 February 1942, Page 4

INCENDIARY BOMBS

METHODS OF FIGHTING DEMONSTRATION ON OVAL FIRST DISPLAY FOR DIJNEDIN , Five methods' by which incendiary bombs may be extinguished by determined action were witnessed by a gathering of about 3000 persons on the Oval last night, when the first practical demonstration of this kind in Dunedin was conducted. A parade of 220 auxiliary firemen and 125 spotters from the Emergency Precautions Services organisations took part in the demonstration, which was carried out under the supervision of the superintendent of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Mr F. C. Laidlaw). The Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), in whom the control of the Emergency Precautions Services in Duhedin is vested, was an interested sDGctstor The parade by the auxiliary firemen was an impressive introduction to the main business of the night, and considerable interest was created by the appearance of the trailer pumps attached to lorries. These in themselves are efficient fire-fighting units. >. The firemen arid spotters: marched, into the enclosure on the Oval - to join a group of Emergency Precautions Services men and women police, and wardens. They assembled before a platform raised about eight, feet from the ground on which the demonstration took place. The spectators, among whom juveniles and young persons were in the maioritv. were grouped behind the ranks of the various Emergency Precautions Services units.

Woman Extinguishes Bombs

The demonstration of extinguishing incendiary bombs was made doubly interesting by the enlistment of a woman from the ranks of the public to cope with several bombs. As a means of proving that*the bombs could be handled safely by women when attacked with determination, this was an excellent step. In order to show the gathering what an incendiary looked like when burning, Superintendent Laidlaw ignited one and let it burn itself almost out. It burned with a dazzling white flame, at a heat of 2500 degrees centigrade, but caused ho inconvenience through excessive heat to persons standing a few feet away. Occasionally it emitted a splutter of sparks, but these were of little importance. The bomb itself comprises two parts, one of which is of.a magnesium alloy, and houses a charge of thermite, the most dangerous "element in an incendiary. Contrary to the ideas of many, the bomb does not.explode, but ignites by concussion. The report as this happens.may be misconstrued as an explosion. < V The first method of extinguishing a bomb shown last night was by a direct jet from a stirrup-pump. Within about a minute the water had. extinguished the main flame, and various small sputterings were easily put out by the woman who plied the jet. It was explained by Deputy Superintendent -L. R. Osmond; whb explained each-method to the public by means of "a> loudspeaker system, that only minor damage to apparel could be occasioned by these isolated sparks. , A bomb was next exploded by concussion, and the flame subdued by the woman by sprinkling sand over it. The bomb was then swept into a wooden shovel, and deposited on the ground to burn itself out. : / " Picked Up by Hand '

The third method, also shown by the woman, was that of picking the bomb up in the hand and placing it in. a bucket of water. It was explained that it was necessary to use speed in this method. The remaining fire was easily, extinguished by. the stirruppump. Sand was again used, in the " sand mat": method, where a sack filled with sand to. about two: Inches in thickness, sewn into compartments, was dropped over the bomb, which was then swept up into the shovel as before. Finally,.as,a fitting climax to an instructive demonstration, the bomb was ignited and placed in .a box of inflammable material, which was allowed to burn for some time. Two firemen then extinguished the blaze by using a stirrup-pump, first on the surrounds of the bomb, and then on the incendiary itself. By showing even a small section of the citizens of Dunedin that incendiary bombs, when approached determinedly, are by no means as fearsome as they appear; the demonstration was invaluable, and should serve to dispel in large measure many public misapprehensions regarding the ingredients and dangers of "Molotov breadbaskets " or other incendiary bombs. It was announced that a further demonstration of a similar character may be arranged in the near future.