The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-10-23


J dependence upon water pals is the
fact that the water will freeze in
cold weather. The addition of salt
will slightly lower the freezing point,
but for those parts of the country
where the winter temperature is nor
mally below the freezing point, other
means of fire protection should be
employed
A further objection to the use of
water alone is its comparative lack
of efficiency as fire eXtinguishing
agent. To put out fire with water
it is necessary to drown" the blaze,
that is, not only to quench it tenn
porarily but to lower the temprea-
ture of the burning sustance below
the combustion point. Otherwise the
heat of the burning object will i'm
mediately yaporiZe the moisture and
allow the blaze to start afresh. With
the use of chemicals a different ac-
ton takes place. The chemical fluid,
when thrown upon the fire, forms a
gas, usually carbonic acid gas, which,
as it is heavier than the air, settles
down over the burning surface and
completely shuts off the access of all
oxygen contained in the air. AS COM
bustion depends wholly upon Oxygen,
it is clear that the presence of such
a gas acts as an immediate extin-
5uisher of the fire.
One of the best substitutes for the
rack of waterpails is the fire bucket
tank which consists of a substantial
iron tank about four feet in height
This is filled with water in which
has been dissolved a special COM
pound supplied by the manufacturers.
In cold climates this solution may be
so prepared that it will not freeze
down to temperature of 20 degrees
below zero. When this solution is
thrown on a fire, a gas is formed
which has efficient fire extinguishing
effects. In this tank are six buckets, !
stacked one within the other, but
provided with Jugs on the sides so
that they will not stick together.
The handles ere weighted so that the
one belonging to the top bucket |
stands always upright and ready to
grasp. AS soon as a bucket is re-
moved, the handle of the next sue
ceeding bucket automatically flies up
into place. For use on fires that
can be reached by dash of solution
from one of the pals, this outfit
possesses most satisfactory possibili-
ties but it should be supplemented by
some form of extinguiher that has
the ability to Squirt" stream that
can be accurately directed on a blaze
at height that could not be reached
by the use of pail.
Home fire extinguishers may be
obtained in many styles and sizes,
and most of those now on the market
are really efficient and servicable
The equipment advisable must de-
pend upon the extent and nature of
the buildings as we'll as the amount
of money that the owner feels able
to expenG 1t should, however, be
borne in mind that any quantity of
this apparatus is cheap enough if, by
its use, serious fire is prevented.
The glass grenades, usually sold in
wire racks containing three TASKS,
are we'll known and in frequent use.
The extinguishing fluid they contain
is much more effective than water
and has the advantage of not freez-
ing. AS the TASKS are theoretically
sealed, no evaporation can take
place, so that they remain good until
used. In case of fire they are thrown
at the base of the blaze with
force to break the glass
and scatter the contents over the
flames. AS the largest of these gren-
AIDES holds but quart of the fluid,
and this is necessarily scattered
when the flask is broken, it will be
readily seen that they cannot be de-
pended upon as extinguishers of fires
of much volume, although they may
serve to put out small blaze or to
check large one until moro effective ;
means can be brought into operation.
The same limitations apply to a
small hand-pump extinguisher that is i
being used with considerable salts {
faction. Although of but one quart t
capacity, the advantage of this little I