FIRE NEWS OF THE WEEK

The estimated losses by fire in the United States and Canada, reported for the week ending March 27, amounted to $8,729,000.

Hagaman, a small town near Amsterdam, N. Y., suttered a $10,000 fire last week, which might have been prevented if the villagers had any fire protection.

Governor Wilson of New Jersey has vetoed the bill which was proposed to regulate the salaries of officers, firemen and employes of fire departments in first-class cities m this state.

The Engel Kress plant, West Bend, Wis., was burned recently. It was the largest pocketbook factory in the country, employing over 250 men. Its destruction represents a loss of $200,000.

In his report for the year 1910, Chief Richard Purcell, of the Richfield Springs, N. Y., fire department states that there were only eight alarms during the entire year with an accompanying loss of about $1,100.

Chief W. H. Glore, of the Salt Lake City, Utah, fire department, has invited the legislature of that state to witness an exhibition drill and rescue work by his department. The invitation was readily accepted.

A resolution providing for putting fire alarm telegraph wires underground and seeking authority from the legislature to hire $10,000 for that purpose has been adopted by the Board of Aidermen at Providence, R. I.

The new fire signal apparatus at Grand Rapids, Mich., received its first practical test recently, in the event of a fire. The apparatus is reported to have worked perfectly, with a great saving of time over the old system.

Sparta, Tenn., has started to work improving its fire protection facilities. Two chemical engines have been purchased and installed and two volunteer companies of ten men each have been organized. A paid lire chief has been appointed.

After being elected head of the Dover, N. H., fire department for eighteen consecutive years, Chief G. E. Varney lost at the recent election to James Smith, the present assistant chief of the department, who has served in that capacity since 1901.

Chief Percy Hoyt, of the Cheyenne, Wyo., department, a wealthy clubman, whose hobby is firefighting, recently notified the department that he had arranged for delivery to it of a watertower, with turret pipe capable of throwing six streams.

A meeting of the executive committee of the Louisiana State Firemen’s Association was held at Thibodeaux, La., March 19. Financial arrangements were made for the sixth annual convention of the association, which will be held at Covington, La., May 20, 27 and 28.

Fourteen students of the Hiram College, Portage County, Ohio, confessed to the state fire marshal that they caused two mysterious fires in that town during the closing days of the football season. Although they all pleaded guilty, telling a clear story of the matter, only few were fined.

One man was killed and three hundred head of cattle were burned to death in a fire which recently destroyed a square block of pens in the Union stock yards at Chicago, Ill. The body of the man was found in the wreckage of a viaduct that fell. Various commission firms owned the cattle.

The Atlanta, Ga., fire department maintains a repair shop, and besides making repairs, builds its own hose wagons. Seven of the home-made wagons are now in service. They cost about $500 each. Chief Cummings states that they are stronger and better in appearance than those purchased.

Fire which started in a hayloft at Clarksburg, W. Va , destroyed the fire headquarters building with a total loss. The horses and most of the apparatus were rescued. The blaze, which is thought to be of incendiary origin, had gained considerable headway before the firemen downstairs discovered it.

James Seaborn, eighty-nine years old, a charter member of the Cleveland. O, Volunteer Firemen’s Association, died recently in that city. Seaborn was born in Wales in 1821 and went to Cleveland in 1818. In 1852 he joined the volunteer fire department, and was one of its most enthusiastic and faithful members.

A fire which originated in the office of the Tallulah, La., water and light plant, threatened the plant with complete destruction, and only the prompt and efficient work of the volunteer fire companies kept Tallulah from being in darkness. The office and records were a complete loss, but the machinery was practically unharmed.

At the monthly meeting of the police and fire board of Lansing, Mich., the report of Fire Chief Delphs showed that during February there were fifteen fires, with a total loss to buildings and contents of $1,483. The cost of maintenance of the three auto engines was $7.41. The total cost of the department during February was $2,310.

Fire in the plant of the Minn Billiard Company, Milwaukee, Wis., which was burned out two months ago, again last week caused a loss of $100,000. One person was killed, while eleven were taken to hospitals badly injured. The blaze is supposed to have been due to an explosion of sawdust. Three men were blown out of the window by the explosion.

By unanimous vote of the Milwaukee, Wis., police and fire department council committee, the ordinance consolidating the alarm systems has been recommended for passage. It was amended to conform with the charter providing that all men under the superintendent must be appointed by the respective chiefs, subject to ratification by the fire and police commission.

The Florence University for Women, at Florence, Ala., was burned March 2, causing a loss of $100,000. The flames spread through the building so quickly that the eighty young ladies were forced to escape from the place scantily attired. While Fireman Donald White was battling with the flames he was severely burned by coming in contact with an electric wire.

Fire Chief Griffith, of Montgomery, Ala., issues a favorable report for the month of February. Although his department responded to as many alarms during the month as it did during the same period last year, the damage by fire is placed at a thousand dollars less. An interesting feature of his report is the statement that the loss on overinsurance paid amounted to $1,065.

A satisfactory test of the new Webb automobile fire engine was made in Dallas, Tex., recently, in the presence of the local fire department officials and others from outside towns. A pressure of 140 pounds was developed at the nozzle and 900 gallons was registered with 2%-inch streams, with 700 gallons with one two-inch stream. This is the second auto engine installed in the service at Dallas. The cost was $8,500.

Mayor Behrman, Commissioner Herman Meister atid Chief Thos. O’Connor have accepted the new Seagrave auto hose truck for the city of New Orleans, La. The machine made a run on St. Charles street, and gave a demonstration of quick work, connecting hose with plugs on different streets. The stream of water thrown was entirely satisfactory, reaching four stories. The engine is operated with gasoline and cost $3,400.

When George Shaw, Chief of the Mason, Mich., Fire Department, went over to the engine house one morning recently he found the hose carts frozen down in 18 inches of solid ice, the boots standing up were filled with ice, also the hats and coats were coated with ice. The damage was caused bv the bursting of water pipes overhead in the Maccabee hall In case of a fire Mason would have to call on the Lansing or Jackson fire departments.

The Indianapolis, ind., council is considering an amendment to the present ordinance prohibiting the use of rotary gongs on any vehicles except those of the police and fire departments and on public or private ambulances. Much criticism has been made of the use of such gongs on interurban cars. It is said the constant sound of the gongs so accustoms people to it that the warning of rapidly moving fire apparatus or police patrols is not heeded.

The Marks Senate bill, in the Utah legislature, creating a relief fund for the idemnity of injured and disabled firemen in that state has been passed. Under the provisions of the bill, all fire insurance companies engaged in business in Utah are required to pay to the state, exclusive of other taxes, one per cent, of all premiums, to make up a fund for firemen who are injured or disabled in fighting fires. In case a fireman is killed at duty, his heirs will be reimbursed out of the fund-

The Chief of Police and the Chief of the Fire Department at Kenosha, Wis., are to receive a salary of $1,350 per year, while assistant chiefs will be compensated at the rate of $1,080 per year. Captains of the Fire Department, electricians in both departments and the Desk Sergeant of the Police Department will receive salaries of $80 a month. The men who travel beats and who are employed as regular firemen will receive $65 per month for the tirst year and $75 for other years in service.

A tire which broke out at midnight in a tenement on Truro street, Boston, threatened to spread and caused three alarms to be sent m in rapid succession. When the blaze was under control, the firemen found the bodies of four adults on the roof. W hile the fire was rapidly eating its way up to his apartment on the top floor, a man dropped his young child out of the window’ to the people on the street below, where it was caught uninjured. The blaze started in the kitchen on the ground floor.

Two automobile fire engines are to be delivered to the Porterville, Cal., department on April 1 These machines, owing to the fact that they are the first of their make to be sold on this coast, are to carry a number of extras for which the city council is to be asked to pay nothing, although they have been required to sign an agreement that in case it is desired by the selling agents of the company to use the machines in trials to prospective customers, the firemen will be turned out to show the machines.

The Hillsboro, Ore., fire department has just celebrated the thirtieth year of its existence. When the organization was effected in 1881, the city had no water system or hydrants, the only means at hand being a few buckets and ladders. Later a hand engine was procured and a cistern dug near the public square to supply water. The waterworks were put into operation in 1891, since which the work of the department has been very efficient, so much so as to receive favorable comment from the insurance adjusters when settling losses.

Janies A. Allen and City Electrician Smith, of Fort Worth, Tex., went to Houston recently to inspect the underground fire alarm system of that city. They returned well pleased with what they saw. Fort Worth is working on plans for an underground system. The city had an offer at one time from a company to install the system there for $7,000. Since then the city has grown and the installation would have to be much more extensive. It is estimated the cost now would be $15,000 or more. There will be several substations. At first the underground system will be restricted to the business portion of the city.

The Furness line freight steamer North Point, which sailed last week from London for Philadelphia, was destroyed by fire in the Thames river two hours after she left her wharf. The crew of forty were taken off in safety after the vessel had been beached. She carried no passengers. The steamer was off Purfleet, about fifteen miles from London, when the fire broke out in the general cargo, which included a quantity of creosote. The flameS spread swiftly and enveloped the craft, the heat being so intense that the plates were rendered red hot to the water’s edge. There was barely time in which to run the boat aground and permit the sailors to escape.

The San Francisco, Cal., Fire Commission, at a recent meeting, decided to recommend to the Civil Service Commission the work done by Fireman I. J. Coyne in saving the life of Mrs. D. T. Sullivan. wife of the then chief of the fire department, in the fire of 1906, she having been buried in the ruins of the firehouse, where she and the Chief were living. Coyne was badly hurt through being crushed by falling bricks and timbers, but dragged himself out of the debris in time to rescue Mrs. Sullivan, whom he heard calling for help. It was at this time that Chief Sullivan received the injuries from which he died. Coyne has applied to take the examination for promotion to the grade of lieutenant and the Commission has made this recognition of the firemen’s bravery.

Mayor Schwab, Safety Director Small and Fire Chief Archibald, of Cincinnati, O., have under consideration the formation of a plan by which the fire department and the building inspection department would co-operate in making inspections of buildings and private houses for fire prevention. The mayor is of the opinion that with systematic inspections the property owners could tie advised to keep their property in such shape that many fires that now develop into serious blazes could be avoided, or at least stopped by the fire department before they gained a great headway. Refuse and rubbish in cellars and garrets are not only causes of fires but serve to give a blaze great headway and spread it over the whole building with rapidity. Chief Archibald has requested the city solicitor to draw up legislation which would give the members of the department the rjght to enter private houses for inspection purposes, which they do not now possess.