new stations are under consideration, proposals should not be advanced
beyond the sketch-plan stage before submission to the Council. If
the building is to be financed from loan, proposals should also be
submitted to the Local Government Loans Board at the sketch-plan
stage.

PART IX—COMMUNICATIONS

28. Suitable arrangements for calling the brigade as quickly as
    possible when a fire occurs will require to be made in each district.
    Agreement has been reached with the Post and Telegraph Department
    with a view to improving the existing arrangements for initiating fire
    calls on the telephone system, by the introduction of a simple method
    having priority on both the automatic and manually operated exchanges.
    This envisages the abolition of prescribed telephone numbers on the
    manual system, and the subscriber would merely call the operator, who,
    on being requested for the fire brigade, would connect the caller direct
    to the fire brigade or the receiving point for calls. On the automatic
    telephone system it is proposed that the caller would dial a pre-
    determined number 111 which will connect the caller to the appropriate
    fire station or receiving point. These improvements will have the
    effect of speeding up the receipt of telephoned fire calls to the brigade
    and of reinforcement calls to brigades in other districts.

PART X—WATER SUPPLIES

29. Under section 32 (2) Fire Authorities are required through
    their officers to advise as to the adequacy or otherwise of water supplies
    for fire fighting purposes and must ensure that necessary steps are taken
    to make the fullest use of available supplies. For the present, the
    Fire Service Council, through its officers, concerns itself with the
    examination of new water-supply and reticulation schemes requiring
    loan sanction and steps are taken to ensure that adequate provision is
    made for fire fighting requirements in all new schemes. So far the
    Council has been unable to advise Fire Authorities and their officers
    on the implications of such new schemes, or how they in turn should
    ensure that proper advice is given to the Water Authority on the
    situation and number of hydrants that should be installed. It is also
    essential that fire officers should have guidance as to the steps to be
    taken in cases of failure or temporary disruption of mains reticulation
    as, for example, the use of static water supplies, the steps necessary to
    make them available, and the use to which they can be put. It is
    also desirable that existing water-reticulation schemes should be surveyed
    to ensure that they are being utilized to the fullest extent consistent
    with any increased fire hazards. Fire brigades should keep proper
    records and become familiar with the location and condition of all
    fire hydrants. The utmost co-operation is also required by Brigade
    Officers with Water Authorities and other water undertakings to ensure
    that hydrants are suitably indicated and kept in good working order.
    This is a vital part of fire service operation which requires to be
    put on a nationally organized basis.

PART XI—STANDARDIZATION OF EQUIPMENT

30. The Council is required under section 8 (f) to standardize fire
    service plant and equipment, and the following specifications have been
    adopted by the Council and are available upon application:

Specification
Code Numbers

FSC 1/51 Unlined delivery hose.
,, 2/51 Rubber lined or rubber impregnated
,, ,, hose.
,, 3/51 35 ft. extension ladder.
,, 4/51 Hook ladder.
,, 5/51 Firemen's helmets.
,, 6/51 400—500 G.P.M. pump fire appliance.
,, 7/51 Heavy duty pump escape appliance.
,, 8/51 Wheeled escape.
,, 9/51 Hose reel tubing.
,, 10/51 Water tender appliance.
,, 11A/51 Rural fire appliance (main pump).
,, 11B/51 Rural fire appliance.
,, 11C/52 Light rural fire appliance.
,, 12/51 Turntable ladder.
,, 13/51 400 G.P.M. pump.
,, 14/52 Service uniforms.
,, 15/52 Fire service radio.
,, 16/52 Rural fire party appliance.
,, 17/52 Light trailer pump.
,, 18/52 Types A & B Standard hose drying towers.
,, 18/52 Type C Standard drill and hose tower.
,, 19/53 Breathing apparatus.
,, 20/53 Suction hose.
,, 23/53 Salvage sheets.