2.—ON THE FORMATION OF FIRE BRIGADES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1407, 21 February 1860, Page 3

2.— ON THE FORMATION OF FIRE BRIGADES.

A Fire Brigade generally consists of Four Glasses : — First. — The Superintendent, who has command of all the engines in the Town or Distnct which the Btigade comprises, and who has the whole under his charge. He must be possessed of coolness, activity, aad presence of mind, as i those qualities are absolutely indispensable for i the fulnliaent of his ardous duties ; he is present i at all fires, and being the principal, should on I the fust alarm, immediately proceed to the fire, and reconnoitre the surrounding buildings, which will enable him on the arrival of the engine, to direct its power in the most efficient manner. Second. — The Foreman, whose duty is to see that the engines are ready for action at a Fire ; he must be near the engine to direct its working receiving his instructions from the Superintendent, and in his absence taking the direction of the whole Brigade. Third. — The Engineer, who holds the branch pipe, gives orders for such a number of lengths of hose pipe as may be required, and projects the stream of water in the most advantageous manner. Fourth. — The Pioneers or Firemen, whose particular duty consists in connecting the hose, working the engine until sufficient aid be obtained, and dealing away any obstructions that may impede the efficiency of its woiking Ten pioneers are sufficient for one engine, and may be numbered from 1 upwards. The five first men, from 1 to 5, sit when travelling on the left of the Engine, that being the side by which they gain access to the hose. The five men from 6 to 10 on the right side. When the engine arrives at a fire the superintendent, foreman and engineer only, dismount to ascertain the best meaus' of obtaining a supply of water, and the most suitable position for subduing the flames ; when the men dismount they range themselves on ench side of the en gine, about a yard from it, in readiness to act at a moment's notice, and to keep strangers from interfering with the pipes, handles, &c. When the line of operations is decided upon, and the engineer has taken out the branch pipe No. 5 is to. mount the eugiue, and give out the hosa,;.N^4] t:»kes the first lepgth, which lie screws to the Engine, and uncoils it in the direction of the fire, while this has been doing, No. 2 has been supplied with a length which he attaches to the extemiity of No. I's length ; Nos. 3& 4 act in the same way, and so on till

a sufficiency of pips has been obtained. The suction pipe is attache 1 in like manner by Nos. 6, 7, 8, kc It is tho duty of the Foreman to see that the fire hooks, and all other things are removed from the Handles, the Fore-Ca'riage locked to prevent its turning round, and the clip which keeps the handles in a horizontal position, unfastened before the engine begins working. The engine being read}', and a supply of water obtained, No. L is to attend to the Suction, the remaining nine must assist in pumping, uutil the Foreman shall have obtained suitable persons to work the engine, upon which Nos. 2, 4, fi, 8, and 10, render "assistance for the rescue of Property, pulling down buildings, &c. Nos. 3, 5, 7, and 9 remaining at the engine until it he thought advisable by the Foreman or Superintendent to remove t ! iera. In moving the hose, when full care should be taken to lay hold of the loops, which are fastened round for this purpose. In taking up the pipes the same order is to he observed as in laying them down, each man coiling up his length and stowing itaway in the engine, the swivel screw being kept outside as it is the first required in connecting the lengths. If any fireman enter a house when on fire, he should on no occasion do so alone, for should '■'.o i>e overpowered by he;ii,smoke, &c, his companions can, by means of tho leather belt, draw him back, or he may have iv rope attached lo it, by means of which he may with security enter places in which without this precaution there might be great danger; rooms when on fire should be always entered on the hands and knees, as the sm 'ke rises to-.var.ls the roof, the engineer taking the branch pipe with him, the second assisting in puliing up the hose. Endeavours should be made hy means of scaling ladders from without, to introduce the jet pipe] so that the water may be directly thrown upon the parts of the house ignited ; if thrown only from without, it must necessarily be less eltjctive in putting out the fire. Immediately on the discovery of a five in a house, all the windows and doors shoull he closed to prevent a current air being formed : if this is not done, the slumbering fl.imc.s being fanned by the air will break out with areat I'ury, whereas by closing the doors and windows, and iiUrochicin'g- a stream of water the (ire iv ly ba effectually extinguished. In cases of hay, corn, or straw stacks, the first object should be to prevent the adjoining Wildings or other stacks from igniting, by hanging blankets, rick cloths, or any material of th.it description, well saturated with water, on the sides and top nearest that which is on (ire:. The brigade should be frequently exercised in working the engine iv order that tkey may be able to sot it to work with the greatest pos* sible expedition, the most appropii-.ite time fo'* so doing is in the morning before dawn, as the several parts must then be put together by torchlight. Fires occurring more frequently in the night, the men without pievious exercise would in all likelihood get confused. It will also be found es-ienti tl, in or lor to ensure attention from the several members of a biigade, that a body of rules be adopted, and lines imposed on those who break them. The brigade should be supplied with a uniform, if only to distinguish them when on duty — that of the London Fire Establishment is now very generally adopted ; it consists of a frock coat and tmwsevs of a strong waterproof maleiiai, strong leather boots, a leather heluut, wljiuh is of great use by the protection it affords from melted lead, falling bricks, &«., and a leather waistbelt, with case f-ir hand axe. The .Superintendent is distinguished by apiir of silver epaulets, and a silver m Minted hel.net. The' foremen have 3 and the engineers 1 brass scale epaulet.