Extinction of incendiary bomb. (Transferring the Bomb to the Redhill Container). In addition to this card, the method of dealing with incendiary bombs is described on Cards Nos. 13 to 16. The burning bomb is here being transferred from the scoop into the Redhill container, which can then be carried out of the house. The container is made strong enough to hold a burning magnesium bomb indefinitely, and is so designed that the heat of the bomb will not injure the hand of the person by whom it is carried. (No.17)
Notes
Once outside, burning bombs could be dropped into a hole previously dug for the purpose and allowed to burn out harmlessly. If the bomb had been burning on an upper floor of a building, an immediate priority would be to check the floors below to ensure that the bomb had not burned through the floorboards, dropping molten magnesium and starting fresh fires. The fact that small teams of amateurs could tackle the smaller incendiary bombs was vital to prevent widespread damage to property. Householders (and later on, Fire Guards) were often at the scene and able to start fighting bombs before they got out of control. Had professional firefighters been summoned to attend every bomb and the multiple fires it might start, a whole bulding or even street could be ablaze before they arrived.
References
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