Roofs, more especially those covered with shingles, boards, tarred felt
or any form of thatch, are a source of danger from fire. An excellent
and simple way of protecting them is to run a fairly large pipe,
with small perforations all along its course, along the ridge pole,
connecting it with the house water supply if in town or with the water
cistern in the country. By turning a tap, which should be controlled
from a place easily got at, the pipe is filled with water which escapes
through the perforations and covers the whole roof with a thin sheet of
water. This will extinguish sparks from passing locomotives or a forest
conflagration, and prevent fire from both internal or external heat. In
hot climates the system can be employed for cooling the roof.