THE ARMY TYPE GAS MASK

THE ARMY TYPE GAS MASK

Correspondence on the Subject of Its Adaptibility to the Uses of Fire Departments Letters from Chiefs from All Sections of the Country—The National Board of Fire Underwriters on the Question— Other Writers Express Their Opinions

IN the following correspondence on the subject of the adaptability of the Army Gas Mask to uses of fire fighting, while some of the writers go to much further lengths than others in their claims as to the performance of the mask under the test of real and actual service in the fighting of fires, all seem to be agreed that —while under certain conditions, such as fires where the deadly carbon monoxide gas is generated in a close atmosphere, where illuminating gas is present in large quantities, or where there is a deficiency of oxygen, the mask should not be used—under ordinary circumstances, in the vast majority of fires that the members of the departments are called upon to cope with, the mask will enable the fireman to work with comparative ease and comfort, and not only that, but he will be able to remain long enough to perform the work ordinarily necessary in ventilating or locating the seat of the blaze. Of course, it is always to be borne in mind, as pointed out in our editorial columns, that this mask has its limitations and is by no means infallible—no one has claimed that for it. But it has this advantage, that, under the circumstances that are met with in most fires, with its use a fireman can enter a smoke filled room, where he could not stay five minutes without severe pain and probable danger to himself, and remain there with comparative comfort. The letters follow: