5 



should ever proceed alone into a room 

 on Fire or full of smoke. 



Having approached the Fire and 

 seen what is actually burning, the 

 next thing will be to ponr on the 

 water in a sustained and steady 

 stream, and with the utmost possible 

 force. The resistance of the atmo- 

 sphere to a stream of water passing 

 through it being very considerable, 

 it is obvious that this object will be 

 most effectually attained by carrying 

 the branch as near as possible to the 

 Fire, and thus diminishing the length 

 of the stream exposed to this obstruc- 

 tion. 



Fire is extinguished by water, only 

 when the latter is poured on so 

 rapidly and in such abundant quanti- 

 ties as to form a coating or layer over 

 the burning materials, and thus ex- 

 clude the supply of fresh air, without 

 which Fire cannot exist ; and, if the 

 stream be not sufficiently sustained 

 and rapid to effect this purpose, it 

 will be of little avail in attaining the 

 desired object, that of extinguishing 

 the Fire. It must therefore always 

 be remembered, that the branches 

 should be advanced as far as possible, 

 in order that the water should strihe 



