THAMES FIRE BRIGADE.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18238, 11 July 1931, Page 3

THAMES FIRE BRIGADE.

UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT. Many Improvements Made. EFFICIENCY OF GEAR, SOCIAL SIDE OF WORK. Many new improvements have recently been made in the equipment of the Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade and that popular body is. now as well turned out as any in the Dominion of corresponding size. In the first place the Superintendent L. Alexander has designed a new spring opening door so that when the fireman on duty is giving the alarm he can, with one motion, throw open all the front doors of the station, enabling the fire engines to ( get a flying start. This is a great improvement and the means of saving; several seconds, which oftimes are most valuable in cases where quick action is needed. Provision of Searchlight. Another addition to the plant is a search light which is mounted on the left-hand side of the windscreen on the No. 1 engine, so that it will not be necessary for the brigadesmen to depend upon the street lighting in case of night fires. It might be the case as, in fact, it was the case, of the big stables in Grahamstown, where the flames burnt the electric wires that the men had to work in the light afforded by the burning building, or by the intermittent glow of kerosene flares or hand torches. This will now be done away with, for the search light is an extremely powerful one and is fixed upon a universal joint, so that the rays can be directed in any direction. By its means a good deal of unpleasant conditions will be saved for the brigadesmen. Dangerous Roof Work Averted. ' Yet' another innovation and one which will be more especially appreciated by the men themselves'is the provision of a chain ladder which was constructed in Thames, and will be the saving of men in the very dangerous task which ofteji falls tc their lot when sheets of iron or shingles have to removed from i. burning roof. . In the former days the men frequently had the yer\ insecure foothold afforded by the lead-headed nails as their only support, and it is a wonder that more accidents have not occurred. This danger will be a .thing of the, pasl with the chain ladder, which is made with curved hooks at the end. These can be stabbed into anything to give a firm hold and are also specially adapted for affixing to window sills, thus adding another safeguard to the fireman's work. , Controlled Hose Nozzle. An. innovation will be much appreciated by those who are unfortunate enough to have a minor outbreak, in a room, and have experienced the damage :done by tin pressure of water playing upon the contents which did not actually suffer damage from the flames and smoke. ~ Superintendent Alexander has designed and made a contro' nozzle by which the water can be at once turned off at the nozzle and if necessary can be lessened in volume so as to prevent any undue damage by water to the contents of a building when the flames are subdued. Social Activities. The brigadesmen are also very active in social circles nowadays. They have installed a large radio set and gramophone and almost any night members attend the station to listen in to the various programmes from New Zealand and Australian stations, whilst on nights when sporting events are on the air the crowd is appreciably larger. Card tournaments and other games are freely indulged in and it is the intention of the officers to procure a set of indoor bowls to while away the time. The Fire Station is rapidly becoming a sort of club for the Brigade and their friends, ami the social side is playing an important part in their activities since it is recognised that with the station becoming a popular centre with the men themselves added efficiency will follow.

The Superintendent pays a stroug tribute to the assistance not only of the officers of the Brigade, but individual members for the interest they are displaying in their horn" and also states that the public have been particularly kind in assisting ii: any efforts which have been launched in aid of added attractions for the men. The only thing wrong about the Brigade from a news point of view is that they are too efficient and put a fire out jjefore it becomes a really good news story!