Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-09-15
STANDARD OILS !.
new FIRE FOAM .
PROTECTS FRONT
Apparatus for Stopping Fires
in Big oil District Tests
Successfully
EXPERTS SEE FLAMES = Z
QUENcHED I'M INSTANT
Superintendent Forbes to Ask
Other Companies to Install
Similar Plants

a Test OF the SbdhodIu Ou NOtn
panys new ..firefoam. apparatus, car.
ried out this morning In the pres.
ence or score OF experts, demon.
strated in striking way the possibili-
ties for safeguarding not only the big
oil-tank district west OF Honolulu's har-
Dor but the waterfront itself
As 4 result OF the success Of the
test, Superintendent Of Public Works
Forbes, an interested spectator. will
ask all the companies to install the
apparatus. The Standard OIL company
owns the patent and controls It's use,
but the Standard OIL officials at the
conclusion OF the test today assured
Superintendent Forbes that other COM
panies may use the solution free Of
patent charge. The expense OF Install
ing the necessary apparatus will be
comparatively small.
A. s. Prescott, district sales man
ager OF the Standard Oil company, in
yited number OF Honolulans TO visit
the plant today and watch the test,
which was carried out under the super
vision OF III. +. Harper, sales manager
or the company Cor the entire Pacific
Coast region, and ]. G. Black. chief
engineer. Mesers. Harper and Black
are visiting Honolulu. having come
partly Cor the purpose Of looking into
the yet unexplalned accident a few
days ago at the plant when three men
were fatally hurt BY an explosion.
Governor Pinkham and several terri
torial and city officials were present
today.
The test this morning was carried
out III small tank built on the flats
between the waterfront and the last
OF the line Or standard Oil tanks. The
test was carried out Ia all respects as
would be the case n one OF the great
tanks caught ffn Tire demonstration
tank. some 10 feet n diamoter. had
half an inch Of gasoline IN II. Three
rlpet led ont of this tank. Two Of the
nInes ran to the tall structure on
which is the container holding the
chemical solution which produces the
"fire-foam. These pipes carry the So
luton 70 the oil-tanks-in this case
the demonstration tank
The third pipe had at the tank-end
small metal cup. From under this
cup an electric wire ran through
pipe up to the tank containing the
solution. -
Ata word IRON Mr.. Prescott, burn.
ing torch was plunged in the tank
and Immediately big column OF fame
and smoke rolled up, the heat being
so intense that the group Of specta.
tors moved quickly back.
Then came the striking part OF the
test.
The metal cup melted down, COM
pleted an. electric circuit and up in the
tank holding the chemical solution
automatically the other two pipes were
opened BY electrical apparatus and the
chemicals flowed down and out into
the blazing tank. AS these chemicals
came into the air and mingled, thic1
foam, heavier and deeper than ans
soapsuds but looking much like tn
product oil the wash-tub, burst from
the pipes and struck the surface o,
the burning gasoline. 4 s
Exactly a. II wet cloak had been
drawn over the fire, the flames were
killed. The fire-foam simply spread
over the blaEing surface and as Il
spread the blaze died down. In 1
seconds ny held watch the huge
column OF smoke and flame was gonp
and the fre was out
In every way the exhibit was a sue
cess. The big chemical tank holds
plenty Of solution to put out the
flames II every tank Of the Standard
OIL plant were ablaze simnltaneou
The striking part of the apparatus is
the fact that 1t works automatically.
when the heat reaches 240 degrees
Fahrenheit the metal cup melts down,
completes the Circuit and trips the
tran which sends the chemicals flow,
ing toward the blaze. And the rapid
ity with which the blaze goes out Is
notable.
The formula for this chemical solu-
tion is controlled by q patent. but
when Superintendent Forbes asked
Engineer Black this morning IL the
Standard OH would permit the use OF
the solution by other companies here,
Mr.. Black answered that they could
have the formula free. The cost of
the apparatus is estimated at about
$4,000. -.
81 am going to ask all the cornpa-
nies to install similar apparatus, said
superintendent Forbes after the dem
onstration. 1T viii do a great deal
to safeguard the plants and the har-
Dor front
Among those who witnessed the test
today, besides the Standard Oil men,
were Governor Pinkham. Superinten-
dent Forbes, Fire Chief Thurston, A.
r, Gurrey, Sr., secretary of the fire
underwriters; Arthur e. Davidson,
agent of the Associated Oil Company;
Harold Dillingham; Of B. F. Dillingham;
Co, agents for the Union Oil Com
pany; j. +. Fenwick, assistant man
ager of the Hawaiian Electric Com
many: High Sheriff Jarrett, A. Lewis,
Jr. II, w. Marvin, chief engineer OF
the Hawaiian Electric Company; Civil
Engineers Smith and BurreH OF Pearl
Harbor navy station, and number OF
Honolulu insurance men. ,s.ss,..