How to Deal with a Chimney Fire in the Farm Home

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 3, 15 September 1950, Page 283

How to Deal with a Chimney Fire in the Farm Home

THOUGH prevention of chimney fires by JL attention to regular sweeping should be the aim, those who live in the country, where fire-fighting services usually are not available, should be able to deal effectively with chimney fires, as there is always a danger that such outbreaks may spread and cause serious damage. In this article Eirene E. Unwin, Rural Sociologist, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin, explains the procedure for quelling chimney fires. ’ J.';-; , AS a first step in extinguishing a chimney fire place a wet sack on the hearth and put out the fire in the grate or range with , water. The sack not only absorbs any water which may trickle down and might otherwise, cause damage to carpets, but checks falling lumps of burning soot from rolling out and setting alight things in the room. As a further precaution a spark guard should be placed in front of an open fireplace. As falling soot is probably the greatest danger with a chimney fire, preventing burning fragments from rolling on to the floor and setting fire to the room is a most important preliminary safeguard. To check the supply of air to the flames close all doors and windows leading into the room and, if there is a draught regulator in the chimney, close it. Pouring Water down Chimney When the wet sack on the hearth and the spark guard are in position and the fire in the grate is out attend to the fire in the chimney. The most efficient but not always the most simple method- of dealing with the fire is to pour a bucket or two of water down the chimney from the top. It is best to splash the water down. ;

Do not lean over the top of the chimney, as the water will at once be turned into steam and there is a danger of being scalded by the clouds of steam which will pour out of the chimney. However, the roof of the house may be too steep or the chimney too high for the top to be easily reached by anyone carrying buckets of water, or there may be other reasons why it is not possible to splash water down from the top. There is a possibility of the chimney having been weakened by an earthquake and being liable to collapse under the extra weight of a person on a ladder, or there may be no one available who is experienced in climbing ladders; great care is needed when mounting a ladder resting against a chimney. Directing Water up Chimney If for any reason the fire must be put out from below, water must be directed up the chimney with a bucket pump, or if the pressure in the water main is sufficiently high, by a hose connected directly with a tap. * It should be realised that whether the fire is put out from above or below very little water reaches the hearth. It is turned into steam in the chimney and it is z actually the clouds of steam which mainly are effective in putting out the flames, as they cut off the supply of air to them. The wet sack in the hearth will, however, absorb

any water which may trickle down. Even the water used at first to put out the fire in the grate almost all turns to steam, which also will help to check the flames in the chimney. It is not advisable to put a - wet sack over the chimney in an attempt to put out the flames. This method will put out the fire eventually, but the water in the sack evaporates quickly and, if the sack is not wetted again, it also will catch fire. However, the chief drawback to this method is that it drives the smoke down into the room and this can do a great deal of damage to furnishings and wallpaper. Little or no damage is done by putting the flames out with water. Keep Equipment Handy As a precaution a bucket pump or hose reel should be kept in an easily accessible place. It should be used at once on any flames that have got out of control, except of course on an oil or petrol fire. Direct the stream, at the base of the flame. A bucket or stirrup pump is simple to use. and one person can both pump it and direct the water where it is needed while another person, if available. can fetch more water to refill the bucket if necessary. ■lf a farm home has a water supply with sufficient pressure, the installation of a hose reel affords even better

fire protection than a bucket pump. The reel is easier to operate and the supply of water is continuous, but if one is to be installed it is essential to ensure that adequate and permanent water pressure is available. An electric pressure pump does not guarantee this because of the dependence upon the continuity of the electricity supply. A bad fire is almost certain to melt some of the wiring and' so cut off the electricity from the pump. Chemical Extinguishers Chemical extinguishers are useful but most of them need overhauling at least once a year, as they may deteriorate even if they have not been used. The metal chemical container of an old extinguisher may corrode and there is then a danger of its exploding when an attempt is made to use it. On the whole a bucket pump, or, where water pressure is adequate, a reel hose, is probably the safest and simplest home fire-fighting equipment, especially in farm homes, which are rarely within fire brigade areas. Christmas Gift Subscriptions TO avoid late delivery caused by the congestion of Christmas mails, gift subscriptions to the “Journal” should be paid to the nearest office of the Department of Agriculture not later than Friday, December 1.