FIRE COLLEGE EXTENSION COURSE

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FIRE COLLEGE EXTENSION COURSE

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Question.—(a) Describe a high pressure motor-driven hose wagon and all the tools and hose carried on it, and their use.

(b) Describe the different types of nozzles, cellarpipes, distributors, etc., and their use.

Answer.—A high pressure motor-driven hose wagon is the name used in this department for a 48-h.p. watercooled, internal combustion, motor-driven hose wagon, having a selective type of transmission, three speeds ahead and one reverse, and is equipped with foot and emergency brakes, double chain drive, multiple disc clutch, dual ignition system and a splash and force feed lubrication system.

The wagon is equipped with a 3 1/2-inch Morse turret or deck pipe, receiving its source of supply through two 3-inch Siamese connections, one located on each side of wagon, and is supplied with the following turret or deck pipe nozzletips:

One 1 1/2-inch tip.

One 1 3/4-inch tip.

One 2-inch tip.

Generally a 1 1/2-inch tip is used; if the officer in charge so desires, however, the tip can be changed to a larger size; the larger size is generally used where a volume of water is required, instead of pressure in pounds.

Equipment: Twenty lengths of 2 1/2-inch hose (2 lengths rolled up); 14 lengths of 3-inch hose; 2 high pressure gauges and nipples for hydrants; 1 two-way gate Siamese connection, 4 1/2 x 3 inches; one two-way Siamese connection, 3 inches all around; 1 paradox pipe holder and collar for 2 1/2-inch hose; 1 3-inch Perfection pipe holder; 1 2 1/2-inch Perfection pipe holder; 2 roof ropes; 2 high pressure hydrant wrenches; 1 gravit hydrant wrench; 2 life belts; 1 life net, 3 hand lanterns; 6 rope ladder straps; 1 crowbar; 1 hose roller; 2 copper hose jackets, 3-inch; 2 copper hose jackets, 2 1/2-inch; 2 3-inch double swivels (for use on bulkheads and inside standpipe connection); 1 reducing swivel, 3 x 2 1/2-inch; 2 reducers, 3 x 2 1/2-inch; 2 increasers, 2 1/2 x 3-inch; 2 scaling ladders; 1 6-foot hook; 1 claw tool; 1 lock breaker; 2 axes; 1 Hale door opener; 1 hole drift; 1 combination wrench; 1 axle nut wrench; 1 turret pipe wrench.

Open nozzles: 3 3 x 2-inch, 3 3 x 1 3/4-inch, 3 3 x 1 1/2-inch, 1 2 1/2 x 1 1/4-inch, 1 2 1/2 x 1 1/8-inch. (To be used on roofs, streets or places where large quantities are desired, and when the line is not to be moved).

Controlling nozzles to be used; 1 2 1/2 x 1 1/8-inch, 1/2-inch tip; 1 2 1/2 x 1 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch tip. (On fire escapes, or floors in places where it is necessary to move line on roofs in winter, or when overhauling.)

1 Baker cellar pipe; nozzle tip 1 1/4-inch (Can be used through cellar or basement floors, through partition walls, or through roofs, when unable to get under or on top floor.)

1 Bent cellar pipe; nozzle tip, 1 1/4-inch. (Same a_____ for Baker pipe.)

1 Bresnan distributor. (Can be used through floors to cellars or basements, and in any place where fire is underneath, and can not be reached with a line, or through roof or partition; when in to cellar the distributor should be kept about four inches from the beams or ceiling, and if a number are used they should be staggered over the floor.)

Question.—What fittings would you use, first, to stretch a 3 1/2-inch line from a high-pressure hydrant and connect it to a water tower? Second, to siamese two 2 1/2inch lines with one length 3-inch lead-line; go to work with proper equipment and proper size nozzle; third, to stretch 3 1/2-inch line with three 2 1/2-inch leading line that can be controlled independently?

Answer.—After removing cap from hydrant the first fitting to use is a high pressure water gauge, which is connected to the 3-inch outlet valve on hydrant; the second fitting to use is an increaser from 3 to 3 1/2 inches, which goes on the high pressure gauge. Then connect up 3 1/2-inch line and stretch to water tower. The third and last fitting to use is a reducer from 3 1/2 to 3 inches, which goes on the male butt of 3 1/2-inch line; then connect to 3-inch inlet on water tower.

Siamese two 2 1/2-inch lines with one length of 3-inch lead line. Go to work with proper equipment and proper size nozzle.

Stretch two lines of 2 1/2-inch hose; get a siamese connection 2 1/2 x 3 inches and connect up lines. Then connect 3-inch lead line and lead out with same. Put on 3-inch Perfection pipe holder. 1 1/2-inch open nozzle, and start water.

Stretch 3 1/2-inch line and get a three-way gate connection 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches; connect up 3 1/2-inch line, then connect up and lead out with three 2 1/2-inch leading lines. In connecting lead lines the first line is connected to the middle connection of the 3-way, with the two outside lines following. Then put on each of the lead lines 1 1/4-inch controlling nozzle and start water.

Question.—You are in command of a hook and ladder company and arrive at the scene of a fire in a 6-story factory building, 50 x 90 feet. The fire started on the third floor, extended to the fourth, and looks as though it might involve the fifth and sixth floors. There is a 10-story factory building to the east of the building on fire. You are directed to proceed to the roof and ventilate the building.

How would you get to the roof? What tools would you take? What would you do after you go to the roof?

A.

Answer.—I would get to the roof by going up through the 10-story building to the seventh floor where you would find side windows overlooking the roof.

B.

Take the following tools: Hooks, axes, lock opener, roof rope, hose roller, and tin cutters, and if necessary, junior extension ladder.

C.

Open scuttle and sky lights, and top floor windows, if possible, with a hook from roof, and cut up portion of roof near stairway. Also stretch house lines on each floor of 10-story building above roof of 6-story building to protect side windows.

A Composer as Well as a Fire Fighter

Acknowledgment is made of the reception of a copy of the song entitled “The Fire Fighter’s Last Goodbye,” composed by Captain Harry M. Files, of the Little Rock, Ark., fire department. The music and words of the song were written by Captain Files and he has dedicated it to “My wife and boys and the International Association of Fire Fighters.” Captain Files was also the composer of “Only A Picture Of A Brown Eyed Girl,” “Nell And I,” and “Portrait Of My Mother.”

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FIRE COLLEGE EXTENSION COURSE

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FIRE COLLEGE EXTENSION COURSE

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Question—What do you understand by the term “fireproofing a column”

Answer.—By the term fireproofing a column I understand the process of protecting the most important load bearing members in modern buildings, by building about the column and insulating it with a hard fireresisting material that will protect it from the destructive effect of fire and intense heat.

Basement and lower story columns require the most efficient protection, especially where there are large quantities of combustible material and where tremendous loads are being carried by the column.

Hollow tile blocks of fireproofing material in many instances in the San Francisco fire failed through poor workmanship.

Concrete fireproofing on columns in the San Francisco fire stood the test second to brick.

Well burned ordinary brick of good quality, properly laid in cement mortar, is the best material now in use as a fire protection covering for steel or iron columns.

Four inches of brick for ordinary protection, and from 6 to 8 inches to meet severe conditions.

The importance of fireproofing can be better appreciated when the fact is understood that in the Park Row building, 30 stories high, the heaviest column load is 2,900,000 pounds, while in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel of moderate height, a column supporting the large trusses over the ball-room carries a load of 5,400,000 pounds.

Question.—You are the officer in charge of a hook and ladder company, and are directed to enter a building after a fire is practically subdued and open up the floors to relieve them from water.

Where would you open the floors? How much opening would you make, assuming that you had to work from the second to the fifth floor?

Answer.—On receipt of the order to relieve the floors of a burned building from water after a fire had been subdued, 1 would immediately make an examination of such floors to ascertain to what extent the water had accumulated, and the general condition of the floors, from the standpoint of strength.

I would then cause all accumulation of debris to be removed from the main hallway at the street floor, and if condition of floors was very bad I would take one man with axe, hook, claw tool and lamp, and proceed to second floor, clear away all obstructions from around the stairwells, hoist or elevator shafts, so that the water would have freedom in flowing through these openings, then cut holes in floor, as much as possible in the sagged portion of floor, provided such deflections were not in the aisles necessary for the firemen to walk through, by so doing you would prevent accident by steppinginto such holes.

In cutting these holes a space of 6 x 6 inches is sufficient to allow the water to flow freely.

Holes of this size are usually made with one cut of the axe crosswise, and the length is easily spaced by a good axeman.

If double thick floors they should be cut as follows: Cut a larger piece from the top layer to permit of easy cutting of the bottom boards.

My reason for beginning the work on the second floor would be the purpose of allowing the excessive weight to be relieved from that floor before the water would be permitted to flow from the next higher floor.

thereby preventing the additional load from adding to that already overweighted floor.

Similar clearing away around stair and other openings would be necessary on each separate floor, as the sagging generally takes place in the center of floors and in the location of stairways.

In case the floor should be constructed of heavy deck timbers you would find much difficulty in cutting through them; the cutting would have to be scored; or, in other words, gutter shaped, for the freedom of the axe in cutting, but if augers and saws should be in the tool equipment, several holes could be bored close together to permit the use of a saw tending to quicken the work as well as saving a great deal of labor; such saws should be two-edged and wedge shaped.

Should concrete floors be encountered, and if they have suffered much from the heat of the fire it would not be safe to pound much in breaking holes through them, for they may have been expanded sufficient to break the tie rods, and probably cause the entire section to fall; the shock and weight of the broken floor, possibly, would carry down the floors beneath it.

Question.—As the commanding officer of a company, state the acts or reasons for which you would give a member of your command a mark on his service record for “capability,” “effectiveness,” “deportment” and “bravery”?

Answer.—As the commanding officer of a company, I would only consider and give a merit mark to a member of my command for some act or work which was, in my opinion, of distinctive or signal note or character; above the regular routine or duty of the member so credited; as under bravery, for an act which would not be considered sufficient to be given credit by the “board of merit” under Classes 1, 2, 3; but, that was more than ordinary duty, should be given a mark under the proper heading on his service record.

The same routine to apply under the other headings.

(To be continued)

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