SIOUX CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Not long ago an important section of Sioux City, Iowa, was destroyed in a serious conflagration that wiped out a considerable portion of its business centre. It further threatened to lay waste all of the fine modern buildings for which the city is noted, but that a lucky turn came, as the firemen under Chief George M. Kellogg, were able to make a break in the fierce flames, when hope had almost given place to despair. At that time the city had no fire apparatus except some five hose wagons and chemicals, and although the pressure furnished by the waterworks was ample under ordinary circumstances, it was not to be expected it could meet the abnormal conditions that existed at this fire. Strange to say the lesson then taught those responsible for the city’s fire protection, only one Nott steamer has since been added to its equipment. That the fire loss, under existing circumstances. has been kept down so low is most creditable to the ability of its chief. The present equipment of the department is one Nott steamer, three chemical engines, five hose wagons, two Eastman’s Deluge sets and a city truck. The Gamewell fire alarm system has forty-three boxes and is modern in most respects. This then is the full equipment of a flourishing city of fifty thousand inhabitants, which, even to the uninitiated, must appear inadequate. The paid force consists of thirtynine full paid men who are carefully drilled and competent to meet any ordinary emerg ency that may arise. To show their efficiency a company stationed at the race track at Clin ton on July 30th, 1908, made a hitch from bunks and horses in stalls, ran one-half mile, laid 150 ft. of hose, broke hose, and connected pipe in one minute and fifteen seconds. The men that made this record were I’hil Me Dougall. driver; Joe Mallory, coupler; Art Jordan, pipeman, John Christie and Captain M K. Hartman in charge. The illustration made from a photograph shows the wagon leaving the shed at the track. This certainly places the men at the head of the list in fast time making and the horses among the best in the service. The horses are called Faddy and Prince and, as will be seen by the illustration, are a very fit-looking pair. They have a record of champions of Iowa in 1907, with 1:18 3-5 minutes for a mile and they won the same honor in 1908, with a record of 1:16 2-5: while in 1908, they also captured the world’s championship in 1.15. There are seven fire stationin the department occupied by nine companies, the principal one, or headquarters, being shown herewith. The valuation of these build ings is $650,000, and their equipment. $300,000. The fire loss for the three years past arc: 1906, $64,323.55; 1907, $198,960.64. and for 1908. $114,464.12. These figures are low considering the size of the city and the property value to be protected. Chief George M. Kellogg, whose portrait is given herewith, has been head of the department for some years, having graduated from the lowest rung of the ladder up. He is very progressive and well informed in his profession, and was elected president of the International Association of Fire Engineers in 1906.


