New Jersey State Fire News.

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New Jersey State Fire News.

CHIEF J. W. WILKS, VICKSBURG, MISS.

Through the addition to the equipment of the Atlantic City fire department of the new aerial truck, recently purchased by city council at a cost of $6,000, Chemical Engine Company No. 2, is disbanded, life members going to other assignments.

Brancliville borough has a water plant, 30 hydrants, 800 feet of hose, a hose cart, and now it has chosen the men to man it. At a special meeting of the borough council, Wilbur K. Dye was appointed by Mayor Xelden as chief of the fire department, and Charles H. Crisman as assistant chief.

After appropriating $5,000 for a new fire engine some months ago, Belniar has not yet been able to make a selection from the numerous types of steamers brought to its notice.

A new tire engine company has been organized in Rahway, N. J., composed almost exclusively of exempt firemen.

Fire Chief Stagg, of Paterson, N. J., has sent a communication to the police and fire commissioners explaining what he has done in compliance with the instructions of the commissioners relative to carrying out the ordinance adopted the first of the month, governing the manufacture, sale and storage of explosives and combustibles within the city limits. He reports in the letter that he has assigned the engine and truck companies to look after all the storage and manufacturing plants in their district. The men will he assigned to districts, which they will cover once every three months.

Volunteer firemen throughout Xew Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware are looking forward with interest to the coming great parade and tournament in Asbury Park, which will bring together for review before distinguished state ant! national officials the largest representation of the volunteer force ever collected on a similar occasion. Some idea of the rapid evolution of the Asbury Park department may be gathered from the fact that there are now eight tire companies in the city equipped with steamers, trucks and hose wagons valued at $34,950. The estimated value of the modern fire houses which are owned by the city is $86,000, and the companies’ furnishings are worth $10,000. lit the last year the department lias answered to 35 alarms. The fire loss of the city, which has a valuation of $11,000,000, is stated at less than $6,000 for the entire 12 months.

The lax building and fire laws in Morristown are causing some comment from persons who have had reasons lately to make inquiries re garding them. Efforts to induce churches, lodges, etc., to have their doors open outward, proper exits to he provided in all places of assemblage, and the ordinary precautions to he observed in building in the center of the city, have been of little avail. If a fire should start in ihe business section under adverse conditions, so the experienced firefighters of the city assert, a disasterous conflagration would he inevitable.

Notice has been served by the cotutcilmanic fire committee, of Atlantic City, upon owners of beachfront piers that the ordinance requiring such structures to he equipped with permanent fire mains extending from the Boardwalk to the extreme end must lie complied with within two months.

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New Jersey State Fire News.

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New Jersey State Fire News.

The total number of Newark fire alarms for 1909 was 1,201, being 22 mere than the record for 1908. This includes what are known as “bell” and “still” alarms, but does not include the boxes on which second and third alarms were pulled. The total loss for the month of December, which is estimated to reach $250,000, will represent one-third of the total loss for the year. While much will depend upon the amount of losses fixed by the insurance adjusters for the latter part of the current month in determining the actual total for the year, it is estimated that they will probably reach $650,000. This will practically correspond to the figures for 1907, when the loss amounted to $657,370.49, but will fall almost $80,000 below 1905, when damage amounting to. $732,804.41 was done. The number of alarms received each month during the year and the losses incurred are as follows: January, 110 alarms, $22,500 loss; February, 70 alarms, $15,000; March, 105 alarms, $30,000: April, 114 alarms, $82,000; May, 75 alarms, $41,000; June. 75 alarms, $107,000; July. 133 alarms, $7,500; August, 90 alarms, $6.000; September, 79 alarms, $9,900; October. 115 alarms, $55,000: November, 100 alarms, $27,000; December, 151 alarms, $250,000.

At the annual meeting of the Firemen’s Relief Association, of Irvington, the treasurer reported a balance on hand of $2,513.60. an increase of $496.35 over the previous year. The association is comprised of members of the paid department, call men and the Association of Exempt Firemen, who made up the old volunteer department.

A paid fire department for Morristown is being discussed.

After 40 years of service in the Newark fire department, Samuel Ennis, attached to Truck Company No. 3, has been retired on a pension.

Chief Mathews, of Orange, protested against the action of property owners who shoveled snow from the sidewalk on to the fire hydrants, rendering them inaccessible.

The mayor of Passaic has invited Chief Astley, of Newark; Chief Conway, of Jersey City, and Chief Doane, of Plainfield, to be his guests long enough to look over the entire fire department situation and to give their advice as to what should be done to put the department on the best basis for efficient service.

The Ocean City department has received its new automobile chemical engine and is in better shape than ever to handle fires.

Chief William E. Markwith, of the East Orange fire department, reports that during the year the department responded to 165 alarms, 118 of which were still alarms. The total damage by fires in East Orange was $14,847, all of which was covered by insurance. He recommends several important improvements in the service among which are the purchase of an automobile combination chemical engine and hose wagon, and a 75-foot aerial hook and ladder truck. Chief Markwith further recommends an increase in pay for the members of the department, and the appointment of four new men. The report of the board of fire commissioners has also been filed with Mayor Cardwell. This report shows that the cost of maintaining the department last year was $41,797.09. The various items of this amount are as follows: For salaries, $31,635; general expenses. $8,852.88; pensions, $309.21. Resides the cost of maintenance, $22,208.91 was spent during the year for permanent equipment. This amount covers the cost of erecting new quarters for Eastern Hose and Truck Company, and the Springdale hosehouse.

The annual report of the New Jersey Firemen’s Home, at Boonton, shows that during the past fiscal year it cost 23 1/2 cents a day for subsistance for the 36 inmate of the home. During the year 12 applications for admission were received, of which five were accepted. The receipts aggregated $10,077 and there was received frpm the commissioner of banking and insurance $10,500, as the share paid by insurance companies of the state. After deducting $1,000. which was transferred to the special improvement fund, there was a balance on November 9, of $3,843.

Thomas A. Douglas was elected chief of the Millburn fire department.

The report of the treasurer of the Long Rranch Firemen’s Relief Association for the year ending December 1, 1909, shows the association to be worth $23,565.76. Over $21,000 of this amount is invested in bonds and mortgages. The gain during the year was $1,158.06. This amount is less in gain than the year previous, while the expense for the year was more than in 1908. $1,851.90 was paid out for relief during the year. The death benefits amounted to $250. The receipts, including money in hand, amounted to $5,330.79.

A government bulletin announces that lire protection in Atlantic City, N. J., costs more than in any other municipality. Comptroller Heston, of that city, says this is due to unique conditions as provision has to be made in the fire budget for protection covering a large area and for a mid-summer population six times the census showing. He thinks the fire department is economically administered and that the city is well compensated in results for all the service costs.

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