A Pistol Fire-extinguisher.
Page 8
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THE chief essential in dealing with an outbreak of fire that may occur on a motor coach or lorry is that no time be lost in dealing with it, and, further, that the firefighting apparatus can be operated successfully even by the most inexperienced. We were recently enabled to witness a demonstration of one of the latest appliances—the Antifyre pistol extinguisher—which proved very efficient.
The device comprises a seamless steel cylinder, which by means of a bayonet-type fastener is attached to a butt of the revolver type. In the head of the cylinder is a percussion cap, which, when struck by the pin as a result of pulling the trigger, causes a small quantity of black powder to be exploded, with the consequent ejection of a white powder contained in the cylinder. As with a revolver, a safety-catch is provided, and the pistol is cocked by pulling
backwards a T-headed s situated at the reaz of the butt: Should the discharge of one cylinder fail to extinguish the flames, it is only a matter of a couple of seconds to attach another and fire again.
Several demonstrations showing the efficacy of the Antifyre device were given, and so instantaneous did it prove in dealing with the conflagration that the extinguishing, of the flames appeared to coincide with the pnllimg of the trigger.
Perhaps the most impressive test was that to show that Antifyre was capable of dealing with a blaze which can only be likened to a roaring furnace, a hut about 6 ft. high and 3 ft. 6 ins, wide, with a heavily tarred interior and timber roof, also covered with the same material, was saturated with pet"rol and ignited. It was then allowed to blaze until the fire had got a good hold, the flames shooting several feet into the air above the roof. The operator advanced to about 10 ft. from the blaze, and one shot directed into the centre of the flames was sufficient to quench the blaze. .
• As showing the effectiveness of Antifyre when dealing with a fire such as is experienced with petrol spreads, an 18-ft. length of carpet was sprayed with petrol and then ignited. Standing at the end of the carpet, the operator fired at the flumes, several inches in height, with instantaneous success, the operation of extinguishing the flames being so quick that the time elapsing between the' firing of the powder and the total extinction was so infinitesimal that the operator who
04 fired the shot had no time to come back to the " rest " position.
A bucket containing film and petrol was so instantaneously quenched that the film was scarcely' burned. Other tests consisted of putting out a 12-in, gas-ring fed from a 2-in. main, and quenching a blaze caused by a stack of dry wood thoroughly impregnated with petrol. In this case the wood was allowed to burn for some minutes in order to allow the flames to char the wood, this test proving that even the embers were extinguished with the same certainty as the flames.
It is noteworthy that the powder, which is normally held in the cylinder by a wad, as in a blank cartridge, is silently discharged, is harmless to clothes and does not deteriorate.
The outfit for lorries and motor coaches retails at 37s. ed., plus 4s. 6d. for a bracket. Cylinders are recharged free, providing that the apparatus is used actually to extinguish a conflagration.
The manufacturers are Antifyre (Sales), Ltd., 69-73, Mansell Street, Aldgate, London, El.,