Baildon has a population of 10,000. In June the A.FS. considered that the community's fire defences were not strong enough and asked Mr. Harris Bennett, who lives there, to arrange some supplementary fire parties, points out AW.J. in the "Manchester Guardian." He did this, but his scheme went much farther. and as a result this small town is fitted about as well as can be to weather the worst dangers of enemy attack. Within six weeks 7.000 people had given their support and they were organized into groups of from 30 to.40 under group leeders and deputy group leaders. A typical group is made up of the families living in fourteen houses all in one street section.
Once people had been split up like this their training could begin. A convenient time of meeting was fixed and the leader asked to make, certain that every member of his group attended. First of all, men who knew the job (ARP. wardens and A.FS. men know, it everywhere) gave short courses of instruction on fire-bombs and fire-fighting. Once the group had mastered the theory of the business it would attend. together as before, a practical demonstration of dealing with the fire-bomb by the Baildon AES. Finally, each group staged and put out its own practice fire. Since the first big drive in June other people have joined in and Mr.
it aims at getting the whole of the 10,006 inhabitants organized in 300 groups. Nearly 600 stirrup pumps have been purchased by householders through the scheme, which works out roughly at one for every six houses.
Half the trouble in airjaid fires or after damage. by a high-explosive bomb is to know simple things like where the nearest stirrup pump can be found. which is the unlocked door, where the bombed family ordinarily shelters. In Baildon everyone has been asked to answer a number of questions on forms which were circulated. A householder states the size of his family, whether any of them is infirm or sick or needs special attention, which door he leaves unlocked, where his family shelter is, where he keeps the stirrup pump if he has one, where he keeps his supply of water and sand, and the position of the. stop taps and switches for water, gas and electricity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.