AIRPLANE PHOTOGRAPHY
As Applied to Uses of Portland Fire Department—Aerial Pictures Show Surroundings of Buildings
The fire department of Portland, Ore., under the direction of Battalion Chief Edward Grenfell, fire marshal of that city, have recently been making experiments with airplane photography the idea being to show the surroundings of buildings
in the city, especially large plants, with a view to Fire Prevention. Chief Grenfell, in writing to FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING, gives credit for the origin of the idea of the use of airplane photography for this purpose to Mr. Vernon, manager of a local airplane company. In describing the work that he has done for his department through the use of the airplane camera, Mr. Grenfell writes: “We have taken pictures of many of the large mills, factories, shipyards, oil stations, etc., with the
thought of placing them in the fire stations that are first to answer alarms of fire in these plants, for the use of the captains and lieutenants in the study of the various fire problems in their respective districts. These pictures give them at a glance the location of all buildings, streets, passageways, hydrants, etc., which, when firmly fixed in the mind, is of the greatest value to an officer in fire fighting. I have also made observations of the city from airplanes, which give an idea of the lay of the city that could be gained in no other way. I am sending you, under separate cover, photographs of one of our large sawmills and of a furniture factory showing the surrounding buildings and streets, which T hope will he of interest to you.”
