CITY FIRE SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25101, 17 December 1942, Page 4

CITY FIRE SERVICE

VALUABLE NEW EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATION BY BRIGADE The working of the Merryweather all-steel turntable ladder, which was purchased by the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board in Britain for £11,300, and is the only fully mechanicallyoperated equipment of its kind in New Zealand, was demonstrated by members of the Metropolitan Brigade at the Central Fire Station yesterday. The function, which was presided over by the chairman of the Fire Board, Mr W. W. Callender, was attended by the Mayor. Mr A. H. Allen, members of the City Council, the Fire Board, the borough councils in the metropolitan area, and the Underwriters’ Association.

The ladder, which was recently acquired by the brigade, is 100 feet in length and is telescopic. Mounted on a Dennis chassis, it has a 45 h.p. sixcylinder engine, which is capable of developing 115 brake h.p., R.A.C. rating. The enormous leverage is carried by the engine, which weighs If) tons lOcwt, further stability being given by clamps which arc secured to the pavement. The operation of a high pressure heavy volume stream from the head of the ladder is made possible by a water tower, and there is also special rescue apparatus. A pump which has a capacity of 500 gallons a minute at a pressure of 1301 b will be capable of boosting the supply from the city watermains or of draughting from a static supply such as the harbour. Operation of Ladder

The direction of the ladder 'may he adjusted by a control of hand-levers through friction clutches, and automatic control also governs the raising and lowering of the ladder at safely margins for various angles, which are shown on an indicator plate near the operator. Should it be wrongly used by an operator, when raising, extending, or lowering, automatic apparatus, which will come into action, will prevent an accident. The provision of a platform at the head of the ladder will enable a man to be carried to its fullest extension, at which he will have communication with the man at its foot by a two-way loud-speaker telephonic system. A fire engine of the limousine type, which was also on view, is another addition to the station equipment. The new machine, which will afford cover for the men on their way to and from fires, is mounted on a Mercury Ford V 8 100 h.p, chassis and has seating accommodation for seven men. Two or three men may also be accommodated on the step. A pump mounted on the front has a capacity of 250 gallons a minute. The body of the machine was designed by one of the local station officers, and is the first of its kind in New Zealand. Mr Callender said that the turntable ladder was the most modern in the southern hemisphere. It was the only one that had come from Britain since the outbreak of the war. The city engineer, Mr S. G. Scoular, had made investigations concerning such equipment when he was in England and America some time ago, and the Fire Board had been greatly assisted in its negotiations by the report he had submitted. Congratulations Extended The Mayor and Mr Scoular congratulated the board and the brigade on the latest additions to their appliances. and a fine display of fire-fighting and rescue drill with the new ladder was given by the brigade. ' A mobile canteen, also the first of its kind in the Dominion, was presented to the superintendent of the brigade, Mr F. C. Laidlaw, who received it on behalf of the men. The presentation was made by Mr J. H. Walker, who was chairman of the trustees of a fund which was held in reserve from a fire brigade demonstration in Dunedin in 1925. Mr Walker said that for some years the fund had provided for the upkeep of the family of a member of the brigade who had lost his life in a fire. When the children reached an age at which they were able to support themselves it was decided to purchase the canteen for the use of the members of the brigade when they were on duty at fires for extended periods.