What Should Modern Rules Include?
Rules and Regulations for Drillmasters and Chiefs’ Aids or Drivers Considered—Sixteenth of Series
IN this installment of the series of articles on the rules and regulations of fire departments are considered the rules pertaining to drillmasters anti chiefs’ aids or drivers. There are twenty rules regulating the duties of drillmasters and eleven those of the chiefs’ aids or drivers, as compared with fifty-one for watch duty considered in the last issue of FIRE ENGINEERING.
Drillmasters
In four of the forty-one departments considered the following rule is incorporated:
“The Drill Master shall, subject to the order of the Chief of Dept., have complete and sole charge of the Drill Tower, all drill equipment and of the drilling of all members of the Dept., and shall have complete and sole command of such Dept, members as may be, from time to time, detailed or assigned for parades, escorts, exhibitions, or demonsfrations.”
Three of the departments consider the following three rules essential:
“The Drill Master shall keep a complete and accurate record of his operations and drills and shall on the first of each month, submit to the Chief of Dept, a complete detailed report of his activities during the preceding month.”
“The Drill Master shall keep a book, and note the names of each and every member who attends, and the company of which he is a member and the time of practice.”
“Every candidate for the Fire Dept, of Waterbury, Conn., shall first report to the Dept. Chief, who shall assign him to the care of the Drill Masters for instruction. This shall take place directly after his appointment as callman or probationary fireman. And not until the said Drill Masters have filed a report of the man’s qualifications with the Dept. Chief, who shall present the same to his superiors, shall the Board of Public Safety advance the said fireman to the regular or permanent force. In other words, the Drill Masters shall first certify to the Callman’s ability as a fireman before being advanced to the regular force.”
“He shall perform such other duties as may be, from time to time, required by the Chief of Dept.”
These five rules are enforced in two of the departments :
“The Drill Master shall report direct to the Chief in charge of each second or greater alarm of fire.”
“Drill Master shall have the rank and authority of District Chief and shall be obeyed and respected accordingly.”
‘Tn their work the Drill Master shall be civil and courteous at all times giving encouragement to the beginner and helping him as much as possible; reprimands may be given if necessary. The Drill Master should be reasonable and just in their work of overseer of tower work.”
“When an alarm is given during drill practice the drill master shall excuse such firemen as may be deemed necessary to answer the alarm, providing the said firemen, at the particular time, is on call duty.”
The rules which follow have been found listed in but one city each:
Fresno, Calif.
“The Drill Master shall from time to time, or as may be required by the Chief of Dept., formulate drills and evolutions as may be, in his poinion, necessary and proper for the maintenance and increase of efficiency in the Dept.”
Waterbury, Conn.
“The Drill Master shall note the work of men and later, of they believe it to be for the better interests of the Dept., to call them in for further examination.”
“The Drill Masters may postpone the drill school for the day on account of the weather, notifying the members of such action as soon as possible. Daily drills, however, shall be assigned for different shifts at least five days during the week, Saturday and Sunday and holidays being excepted.”
Washington, D. C.
“The hours of duty of Drill Masters shall be from 9:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M., and his headquarters shall be at such place as may be designated from time to time by the Chief Engineer.”
“The Drill Master shall submit daily reports to the Chief covering entries made on his records.”
“The Chief of Dept, shall have the authority to shorten the hours of drills, or omit same altogether when, in his opinion, the weather or other conditions warrant such action.”
“New appointees when on day duty shall be detailed by the Battalion Chief in charge ol their respective battalions, to the Drill School for 30 full drill days following their appointments.”
“The drills shall consist of instructions and practical demonstrations by the Drill Master, together with such participation by the men under his command as he shall deem fit, in the use and care of all tools, appliances, and apparatus, carried on the engines, hose wagons, and trucks of the Fire Dept.”
“One-half hour (front 12:00 noon until 12:30 P.M.) shall be allowed the Drill Master and his men for lunch. Men detailed to the Drill School shall report promptly at 9:00 A.M. and remain there subject to the orders of the Drill Master until 5:00 P.M.”
Rochester, N. Y.
“The Drill Master shall promptly report any injury, however slight, received by any man, v’hile attending the school, to the Chief of Dept.”
“The Drill Master shall see that lifenets, gas masks, ropes in use by the Dept., shall be tested at least once every 6 months and properly labeled with the date of test.”
Chief’s Aides or Drivers
In four of the forty-one departments considered, the following two rules are incorporated:
“Orders and messages may be delivered by him from the Dept. Chief and shall be considered in the same manner as of delivered personally by the Chief but shall apply only during fires.”
“The care of cars assigned the Dept. Chief and Deputy Chiefs shall be in the hands of such aides as assigned to this duty.”
Three cities have incorporated in their rules and regulations the following three rules:
“Officers detailed as aides to the Dept. Chief shall be within call at all times, except when off duty with consent and approval of the Dept. Chief.”
“He shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the chief.”
“Firemen detailed as drivers to the Chief, Deputy Chief and District Chiefs are to be considered as aides to the Chief during fires and may be used by such Chiefs in carrying orders to and from various officers.”
These two rules are enforced in two of the departments :
“The member detailed as chief’s aide or driver shall be with the officer at all times except when granted regular or special leave of absence, or otherwise ordered.”
“The Chief’s aide or driver shall be responsible for all messages transmitted through him to others and shall report to the commanding officer the result of such messages.”
The rules which follow have been found listed in but one city each:
Portland, Me.
“Drivers designated as aides to chiefs, etc., are strictly forbidden to give any orders or directions not specially authorized or directed by such officers.”
“Chief’s aides or drivers shall acquaint themselves with the locations of all fire alarm boxes; all signals used in connection with fire alarms and with other matters of importance relative to the above, which may be of service to the Dept, or to themselves; shall be prepared to do active duty at fires when called upon and shall, at all times, give strict attention to the work required of them.”
Providence, R. I.
“The aide to the Chief of Dept, shall rank as a private.”
Milwaukee. Wis.
“In the absence of the chief’s aid or driver, a responsible member will be chosen by the chief to assume his duties, wear his fire hat at fires, and be obeyed and respected accordingly.”
Engine Companies—Pipemen, Hosemen and Hydrantmen
Three of the forty-one cities considered incorporate the following rule;
“It shall be their duty to keep the quarters, apparatus, and equipment clean and serviceable and perform all other duties as assigned to them in or out of quarters.”
Two cities have incorporated in their rules and regulations the following two rules:
“Hydrantmen shall attend to all hydrants and cisterns in their respective districts, see that same are in good condition and ready at all times for immediate use.”
“They shall also perform such other duties as may be required of them by their superior officers, or the rules and regulations of the Dept. (Hydrantmen).”
The following rules have been found listed in but one city each:
San Francisco, Cal.
“They shall visit and inspect cisterns in their respective districts once in each month, keep the same filled with water and see that they are in proper condition and ready for immediate use at all times. They shall report the condition of the several cisterns once in each month to the Battalion Chief of the District wherein said cisterns are located, but if for any reason a cistern becomes useless the fact shall be immediately reported to the proper Battalion Chief. (Hydrantmen).”
“They shall see that the hydrants are at all times kept free from obstructions of every character, so that access thereto may be readily had by the engines of the Dept. (Hydrantmen).”
“They shall register in books provided for that purpose the exact location of all hydrants and hydrant gates in their respective districts and see that said gates are conspicuously exposed and not covered or hidden in any way by pavement, bitumen or other material or substrance used for street purposes or otherwise. (Hydrantmen).”
Pittsburgh, Pa.
“During their tour of duty of hosemen attached to Engine Companies shall be on duty at their respective quarters at all tunes, except when detailed elsewhere at fires.”
St. Louis, Mo.
“In the absence of the Capt. and Lieut, the senior pipeman shall perform their duties.”
New Orleans, La.
“When on duty at fires pipemen of engine companies shall remain with the captain or officer in charge near the pipe.”
Peoria, Ill.
“Every hoseman shall carry a hose wrench when on duty at a fire.”
