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GOV. AVERELL HARRIMAN— New York state executive signed bills providing for New Yorks "Super" track. I New Weapon for Use Against Race Track Fires Demonstrated Utility of Man From Mars * Suits Demonstrated in Mock Stable Blaze at Washington A new weapon to be used in thoroughbred racings fight against fires was used in a fire rescue demonstration Monday at Washington Park. It is a "man from Mars" suit constructed of aluminized asbestos equipped with a helmet and oxygen tent. It was introduced under actual inferno conditions as a mock stable was set ablaze on the Washington Park grounds. The equipment will be in service for the Balmoral Jockey Club meeting, May 16 through June 18, at Washington Park. Three fire -fighters, dressed in the weird-looking costumes, leaped off a fire-truck, plunged into the flames, "rescued" a dummy, simulating a man trapped in the stable and then aided regular firemen in snuffing out the blaze, all within 30 seconds. The new fire-suits were designed especially for race-track protection by Wheeler Protective Apparel Company of Chicago at the request of Benjamin F. Lindheimer, executive director of Arlington Park and Washington Park. Tropic-Weight Asbestos Cloth Lindheimer launched the idea last fall. He called in several firms and described the specifications and requirements. The Wheeler company tested numerous fabrics and designs and finally offered the brand-new concept — a one-piece, aluminized asbestos suit, with oxygen mask attached. In two preliminary tests, the "man from Mars suit proved to be the most practical yet devised. The fabric chosen is a tropic-weight asbestos cloth coated with aluminum, created by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. It weighs less than half as much as the old asbestos fire-fighting suits and actually reflects all but. a fraction of intense heat. The new suits permit complete freedom of action and mobility and are 100 per cent fireproof. They enable a man to plunge directly into a blaze, or battle flames close-up to intense heat, and either fight fire or rescue a horse or man trr- ped inside the stable. To further the rescue possibilities and to safeguard the rescuer, the Wheeler Company also introduced a portable oxygen tank which is strapped to the fire-fighters back, plus a mask, designed by the Scott Air-Pak Company. It permits the rescuer to breathe normally and avoid dangers of smoke inhalation. The mask is covered by an aluminized asbestos hood and a "hard" hat, similar to those worn by construction workers. A fire-resistant glass "window" is built into the hood to give the rescuer wide and protective vision at all times. "In the last 20 years," Lindheimer explained, "over 2,000 thoroughbred horses have been destroyed in stable fires. Each year, race tracks throughout the country, including Arlington and Washington, improve their protective and fire-fighting facilities. "But there is nothing that will absolutely guarantee a track or any other organization against fire," he added, "so we are Continued on Page Thirty-Three New Weapon to Combat Race Track Fires Is Demonstrated Continued from Page Three always .seeking ways and i means to better our position in the battle against it. "If we can save one mans life, or a valuable thoroughbred, with this new equipment, then it will have paid for itself." Race-track stable fires rate the most hazardous element of the sport. In 1954 alone, there were 80 thoroughbreds and over a million dollars worth of property destroyed in four major fires. In the first four months of 1955 there have been four stable fires with a loss of 31 -thoroughbreds. A$ Arlington Park and Washington Park, fire-fighting equipment has been brought up to metropolitan standards. In Mondays mock fire demonstration a new fire truck, equipped with high-pressure fog nozzles which can" develop up to 900 pounds of pressure was used. In addition, both Arlington Park and Washington Park have flther fire-trucks and special, vehicles equipped with fire-fighting gear and appliances. Both tracks also have fire-phones attached to each barn and connected directly with the 24-hour-a-day switchboard. A fire call immediately sets off a siren and professional firemen are on duty day and night to protect the area. High fire-observation towers are strategically placed and are manned by experts in order to spot any traces of smoke or flames in the hundreds of acres which make up a race track. Among those witnessing the fire-rescue demonstration at Washington Park were fire department chiefs from cities and villages surrounding the Homewood, HI., course, and a representative of the Chicago fire department.
