Hold the Nozzle Low
An old fireman, writing to the Portland, Me., Press, gives the following excellent advice, which is both practical and scientific, and, if generally acted on, would save much loss, both from deluge and flame.
“One gallon of water at the bottom of a fire will do more to quench it than ten gallons at the top. Play low, is the true motto of the Fireman. If the first engine that reached the Summit street fire, in Boston, had burst into the warehouse and played into the goods elevator, where the fire broke out, it would probably have saved fifty millions of dollars. To play on the roof of a house on fire, is to waste water ; the roof was made to shed water ; the rain does not put out the kitchen fire ; nor would the Presumpscot, flowing bodily on the roof, put out the kitchen if afire ; play low, get the water to the bottom of the fire and you need not pour in the Presumpscot ; a few gallons at the bottom of the fire will rise in clouds of steam, wherever the fire is rising, and will quench it. Even a heap of rubbish turns rain and water like a partial roof. A gill of water thrown in the bottom of a grate, quenches the fire more than a quart thrown on the top.
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