Historical information

After the 1939 bushfires the Forests Commission placed orders for 130,000 feet (nearly 40 km) of 1½ inch canvas hose in Britain to accompany over 200 new pumps of various types.
The Altona workshop became a major centre for fabrication, repair and storage of hose, pumps and specialised equipment.

Physical description

Underground peat fires are very difficult to extinguish
Water tends to just run off and not penetrate when sprayed onto the surface
Peat spears are driven into the ground and connected to high pressure hose to inject water