The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-02-26 00:00:00

Wm( anb itrt Int).

STOURBRIDGE FIRE BRIG.kDE.

At the annual meeting of the above brigade
h-ld in th, Corn Exchange last night, the f -Rowing
report was read.

CHIEF OFFICER'S REPORT TO THE
COMMISSIONERS.

To TUE STOURBRIDGE IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS

GENTLIiMEN,

I h tve th, honou to submit my eighth annual
repo !t for the year ending December 318 t, 1886.
The Brigade have been callel out fourteen tim
during ,he year, being eight more calls than ft r ,he
year 1385, and four more than the average for the
previous seven years. Niue calls were for fires in
the township, and five for fires beyond the town
boundaries. _ _

There was no fire of a serious nature in the town,
but two of the fires attended out of the township
were serioni, the loss in these cases amounting to
more than one-sixth the value of property at risk.
The total approximate amount of loss on all the
fires at ended war £80,546 Os Od, and the approxi-
mate value of property at risk £141,000, showing a
great increase on any previous year. The amounts
for 1885 were £1,466 Os al loss, and £16,400 Os 01
at risk,

The most serious fire attended was that of a large
wool spinning mill at Kidderminster. The Brigade
were called to the assistance of the Kidderminster
Brigade, by messenger 2i hours after the fire had
been discovered, and they arrived in forty mi.,utts
after receiving the call, the distance travelled being
seven miles. By that time, however, the mill
was tntirely destroyed, and the Brigade could only
ass'st in protecting the surrounding I.roperty.
Six fires were extinguished with buckets, five
with hand pumps, one with manual engine and
hand pump, and one with jets from the watt.r
mains and steam fire engines.
The causes of fires:and nature of property and
trade, are given in a tabulated statement afpended
hereto. xposed beams in chimneys have as usual
been the most frequent causes.
In going to and from fires the Thigade have
travelled forty-eight miles. The total time occupied
in extinguishing and going to and from, has bein
19 hours 20 minutes, an average for each fire of
about 1 hour 23 minutes. Several fires have required
the attendance of only one or two firemen, but the
average attendance of members in response to a
generhl alarm has been ten. During the year the
Brigade have carded out forty-eight drills, the
members showing their usual energy and efficiency
ia the execution of their duties, for which I have to
thank both officers and firemen

In my last report it was stltad that the Brigade
had purchased, with their own funds. new a,ppli-
mices and quipment at a cost of more than £96,
No new apptiances have been Firchased duritrz
1886, but a considerable sum has 13‘.en expended in
imp-osing the Steam Fi e E ,gine, and t e Corn
mittee continue to insure the members against
a •ci,t,nts, while in the execution of their duties as
firemen, at an annual cost of £4 13s 41 The
electric Alarm bells are also maintained out of the
funds of tt e Brigade at an annual cost of £l3.
The exp !nditure on lh Briende out of the twn
rates during the year, has 13, en confined to your
an tut allowance of £lO. which stun barely covers
th.i cost of c:eaning the station and appliances.
Apart from this allowance, the appliances, &c., have
been maitained by voluntary contributions, the
proceeds of several amateur dramatic p3rformcincep,
&12,1 amounts recovered foe attendsnce at fires.

The following appl'ances are in charge (.f the
Brigade :—The property of the Commis:4onm. One
Are escape, pnsented to the town by the Royal
Society for protection of life from fire, one hand
hose reel, with three ladders, not used, 1840 feet of
canvas hose, fitted with Morrison's patent unions,
160 fuet of leatlP-r hose, fitted w.th screw unions,
one brigade hand pump. The property of the
Brigade. Ow• steam fire en4loe, with suction and

tools complete, one new 6-inch manual engine, with
suction and tools complete, one hand hose cart,
e:ght lengths of scaling ladders, two stretchers and
awbulance box cornple!e, rnernl,h-rs unlo. fr,s and
equipment, one old 7-inch nianual engine, not used,
one old 6-inch manual engine, not tr-ed
With the exception of a few old lengths, which
have been in use about twelve years, the hose is in
fairly good condition.
There are fifty-eight hydrants in the township,
thirty four of which are rrivate property The
water pressure has been very good throughout the
year, the gnage in the fire station showing an
ave.rsge pressure ol about 6 lbs. to the inch.
The strength ot the Brigade is one captain, one
lieutenant, one superintendent, one hon. suri,eon,
arid fourteen tirensen

I have to thank Mr. Snp.lintendent Wheeler'
and the members of the County P.)lice Force. for
their very able assistance to the Briga_te,
And Lave the honour to be,
Gentlemen,