Evening star., 1941-02-04
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory. Field
And Study
Bu Thomas r. Henry.

Newly discovered methods OF fire
oratories of the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture, have contributed
much to the protection of London from
inCendiary bombs.
These, it has been learned here, have
contained aluminium or magnesium
powder. Both these elements unite
easily with the oxygen in water to form
a highly explosive gas. Thus if hose
was turned on such a bomb unless it
was done with considerable skill. it
would only spread the flames. This was
discovered by Department of Agriculture
chemists few years ago in investigs ting
disastrous fires in American aluminium
plants.
At that time, however, it was found
that if very gentle spray was turned
on the flames the hydrogen was re-
leased slowly and its rate OF burning
could be controlled.
THE difference" said one Depart
ment Of Agriculture chemist, 'is about
that between lighting Jet on a gas
stove and lighting a match in room
full of gas"
So the watchers on the London roof
tops are being trained to spray the burn
ing bombs very lightly so they will burn
out gradually. 1t is dangerous to at
tempt smothering the fires with sand,
tosay nothing of carrying it to the roof
tops In sufficient amounts to do any
good. There is some advantage in sur
rounding a blazing bomb with a wall Of
wet sand TO prevent spread of the
flames.
Fire protection in wartime, it Is
stressed, is almost entirely civilian
responsibility. For this reason the Ma
tional Defense Advisory Committee has
named a group of experts. including
engineers, Army and Navy officers. and
fire chiefs, and headed by Mayor
Maurice E. Tobin of Boston, to organize
this branch of the Nations defense. 1t
is considered so important in London
that, according to latest figures received
here a reserve of 26000 men has been
built up and service in it is considered
equally important with service in the
army. The possibility of fire offensives
was recognized before the war and
American reports carefully studied
While Americas professional fremen
are well trained in latest methods. &C
cordng TO members of the committee,
they probably would be far from ade-
quate in the face Of concentrated
ehnupr 0f he
has experienced several times Also
many small cities and some large ones
still are protected only by volunteer
departments, mostly with inadequate
training. So vital is the need that
courses In Are fighting have been started
in several colleges
The Department OF Agriculture Are
fighting experiments have been carried
on for years under the direction OF DR..
David j. Price of the Bureau Of Chem
istry and Soils. and were originally con-
cerned with dust explosions in -four
mills. DR.. Price now is a member of the
national committee.
1t soon was found that customary
methods OF fighting fires in such mills
often resulted in violent explosions that
cost the lives Of firemen This was due
to the fact that turning the full force
of the hose on such a building shook
loose the accumulated dust from the
walls and ceiling forming a cloud which
was highly explosive.
From this came the recommendation
for lighter sprays which worked very
we'll until the aluminium dust was en-
countered. German military authorities.
apparently, learned this lesson early and
applied it in building their bombs.