FIRE PROTECTION, MUNICIPAL. The fire protection service includes not only the fire-alarm telegraph. fire-engines, and water-works (qq.v.), but a variety of apparatus used in fire fighting, horses to draw the apparatus, and men to operate and direct' the whole. The sum total, with the general exception of the water-works system, constitutes the fire department. It is hard to say whether the training displayed by the men or by the horses is most to be admired; hut the intelligence, skill, quick your age, and devotion of the firemen are qualities possessed by them alone, and which are often de veloped to a far higher degree in firemen than in any other branch of the municipal service. After the consideration of water-supply and fire-en gines, wherever the pressure afforded by the water-works system is not sufficient for fire pur poses, lire hose collies next in importance. Ruh ber-lined hose is essential to the minimum loss of pressure, and is made with an outer cotton fabric which is either knit or woven, or rubber lined linen may be used. The hose may be single or double jacketed, with some fabric for protec tion against wear. (=les or plug pipes are of metal, tapered from the size of the hose, which should not be ordinarily less than inches, to the desired size of the stream, which commonly ranges upward from or I inches. Relief valves may be placed on either hydrants or en to enable the fireman to shut off the water is at the nozzle without danger of bursting the hose or making it difficult to handle.
Electric hose signals are used sometimes to enable the fireman at the nozzle of a hose to signal to the man in charge of the fire-engine or hydrant. An insulated electric wire is placed between the lining and outer covering of hose equipped with special couplings. A push but ton on the nozzle connects with a battery and signal bell on the engine, and by means of a signal code orders are given to turn on or shut off water, saving much time. Monitor nozzles are attached to standpipes placed on roofs, fire boats, or elsewhere, and are so arranged that by means of proper joints and wheels for turn ing the nozzle a stream may be given a horizontal range of 360° and a vertical range of 100° or more. They may be used at the base of a water tower, or mounted alone on a platform and wheels, and used to turn water into the lower portions or down into the basements of build ings. Once set, a stream may be thrown in a given direction as long as desired, without fur ther attention.
Water-towers are valuable accessories to hose. They are tall, portable standpipes, which may be raised or lowered at will, and are mounted on trucks drawn by horses. A nozzle at the top,
more or less like the monitor nozzle, enables the operator to turn a stream in any direction. One or more lines of hose may be coupled to the base of the tower. A material saving in friction loss is made by substituting the vertical pipe for all equal length of hose, on account of the smoother interior surface of the iron.
Hose-curts and hook-and-ladder trucks are made in a great variety of styles. Aerial ladders may be run up quickly by mechanism mounted en the truck. Gas may be generated to aid in raising either ladders or water-towers.
Fire-houses include the various buildings used to shelter fire apparatus, horses, and men, and are known as engine, hose, or hook-and-ladder houses, according to their actual uses. With paid fire departments the men as well as the horses are quartered in the fire-house, at least while on duty. When an alarm strikes the men slide down a pole from their quarters above, the horses spring into their places in front of the engine or other apparatus, the harnesses are lowered and secured. the doors fly open, and men, horses, and apparatus are on their way to the fire in a few seconds' time.
RN/nay-bidders enable firemen to work their way up from one window to another of a burn. ing building to rescue persons whose lives are in danger, and life nets are stretched below to catch without injury any who are obliged to jump. Arrow-guns arc used to shoot up cords by means of which ropes may be hoisted for use in escaping from tire.
Rospirators are air-filters of wet sponge, cot ton, or other material, fastened over the nose and mouth to prevent suffocation on entering a room more or less filled with smoke or gag. They are sometimes called smoke-protectors, in which ease they may or may not include protection for the eyes. h'ire-armor may include more or less pro tection for the whole body, but more commonly, at least in America, it is designed to protect the head only, and to supply air as well. The Vagen-Roder helmet is a sort of tire-armor. A strong helmet fits over the head and neck. A small cylinder or reservoir at the back of the helmet contains compressed air, which, when sup plied at normal pressure through proper tub ing and accessories, is said to be sufficient for sixty minutes' use. The device is similar to a diver's helmet.
Central offices serve not only as headquarters for the officials of the fire department, but here are also found the various receiving and trans mitting instruments mentioned in the article on