FIRE-ENGINE

an engine for throwing water to extinguish fires and save buildings. Fire-engines are a species of force-pumps, in which the water is subjected to pre ure sufficient to raise it to the required height in the form of a jet. The pump draws its 448 FIRE-ESCAPE water through a flexible suction-pipe, which is placed either in a portable cistern kept supplied by buckets or hose, or in a river, canal, or pond, or other source of supply. in large towns the suction-pipe is sometimes connected to one or more street hydrants, the engine thus being used to increase the pre ure already existing in the water-main. For many years the manual fire engine was the only type in use. Then followed the steam fire-engine, which came into prominence during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The average output of a horse-drawn British steam fire-engine is 3V0 gallons per minute, but engines of much greater capacity have been made, the Jargest being one supplied to Liverpool in 1893. It is able to deliver 1,800 gallons a minute. Modern types of fire-engines are motor propelled. Both steam and petrel motor fire-engines are made, the latter being in more general usc. Such engines can start instantly and travel at speeds up to 40 miles an hour. The illustration shows a modern petrol-driven ‘Hat field’ motor fire engine as supplied to H.M. King George V by Merry weather & Sons, of London, who were the pioneers of inotor fire-appliances. The fire-pump on this mechine is of the treble-barrel reciprocating type, driven by a single crank; several sizes are made, ranging from 150 to 600 gallons capacity per minute, with motors of from 30 to 70 horse-power. The petrol-motor, in addition to propelling the vehicle along the road, drives the pump through silent chain gearing. Accommodation is provided for hose and usual fire-brigade gear, and the cha is is often arranged to carry a detachable fire-escape or light ladders. Frequently a chemical engine for dealing with small fires is fitted also, and in this way a complete fire-extinguishing and fire-escape equipment is provided on one vehicle.