SOLID STREAMS OR “RAIN” FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.
一个记者写水火反对the use of solid streams, and, instead, would substitute “rain” therefor. This he looks upon as the “most efficient way yet devised ” for the purpose of putting an end to the excessive fire losses which have ruled during the last few years. He says: “It takes very little water to put out a fire, if properly applied. Don’t waste it by throwing it at random (in the meantime your property is burning up), but get close to your fire and put it out. Solid streams are practically worthless, destroying, as they practically do, more property than they save, which fact is being forcibly demonstrated every day. Flames will dodge and circulate round and between men, but, when they encounter a heavy drenching rain, have to mix with it, soon lose their identity, and your fire is quenched. A hand engine using a “rain ” nozzle is a far better protection against fire than a steamer using solid streams. One modern first-class steamer can pump enough water to flood and put out the fire in several adjoining dwellinghouses by using a dozen one-inch streams branched from the larger one and using “rain ” nozzles. When two houses are near each other, one on fire and the other in peril, a “ rain ” nozzle will absolutely prevent the fire spreading from one to the other. A nozzle with a large perforated head—an overgrown watering pot which anyone can make and use (no patent), containing about 300 holes the size of a, slate pencil, coupled up with a modem steamer, working under full pressure and throwing a tremendous drenching “rain” from fifty to 100 feet in diameter and a hundred feet ahead is the best firefighting machine in the world.—C. E.”
[Without denying the efficacy of such a “rain” as our correspondent advocates, we would point out that the experience of all the best firefighters in the civilized world is in favor of the solid stream as the only way of putting out a fierce fire quickly and effectually. When thrown upon a very hot fire, “rain” as advocated by our correspondent simply turns into stream, and produces little, if any effect upon the flames. Only drowuing them by sheer weight of water is of use under such conditions. For a fire of medium size which has got beyond the stage when a chemical engine can be of any sendee “rain” may be tried, and, if found effective, will undoubtedly save much water damage— though not so much as our correspondent gives it credit for, as a continued heavy rain is apt to produce disastrous floods. But it will not do to trust too implicitly to such a method, and a prodent fire chief will always be ready to throw a solid stream or many of them,if the occasion calls for it.
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