The Portland daily press., 1877-07-03
A Few SuRgestions.


Mr.. EDITOR The readiness with which an
ordinary fire developes into confagration. re-
CARELESS of the efficiency of the present fire
departments the country seems to suggest a
need of improving the fire fighting apparatus.
Large fires have shown how they become 80,
and the principal cause. After their immediate
connection by flame is flying cinders, which,
falling on dry roofs at even great distances from
the main fire, create new and alarming compli-
cations. High winds .are,a always present, caus;
ed by the local changes of the atmosphere con-
sequent upon suddenly heating so large space
At this stage of the fire no fire department. is
able to cope with it. If, then, the present meth
cd is proven unequal to. the task, would it not
be well to .try.any reasonable experiment to
prevent the horrors OIL. a burned land starving
city.
Allow me to offer a few suggestions which
may stimulate others to offer better ones, and
eventually improve the efficiency of the fire de-
partment in Portland
LIST then, would more than double.the num-
Der of hydrants in each street, and Place them
as though the worst fire was the one to expect,
not mere house blaze.
I'd. would add men and machines to the
present force and have the machines very light
for rapid man9uvering.
Sd. would have two light hose carriages in
each ward, capable of carrying 200 feet of hose,
and so made as to be managed by three or four
men and pipeman to each, as sergeant and
foreman. These carriages could easily carry as
equipment 200 feet leading hose, pipes and
axes, besides fire hats and spanners for the
men.
When an alarm is given it should be the duty
of those hosemen whose carriages we're in the
same ward wherein the district number was
sounded, to use all the hydrants possible by di-
viding their hose among the members, trusting
to outsiders to assist in moving it, the regular
members then could act as pipemen. Upon
the arrival of the steamers, if necessary the
more distant hose carriage would yield their n.y.
dranu to them.
Should additional help be needed second
alarm should bring all the apparatus to the
spot
In case flying cinders should give trouble sew
eral of these hose carriages could be despatched
to the threatened locality and operate as before.
In addition to these hose carriages would
have a few light hook and ladder carriages, so
that each quarter of the city should have few
ladders in cases of emergency. Oftentimes a
fire gains good Roadway while hunting lad
der. to get at it. These companies could ope-
rate in the outskirts of fire in conjunction
with the hosemen with great benefit and in the
event of need, could assist in moving and pro-
GoCtluS nOuSouoiu Souuo ao we'll DIS Trying w
save the house.
Last, but not least, two or three hand engines
would be valuable additions to the department
in case of fire on the wharves, when they
could be placed on boats in the harbor and do
good execution.
With few paid fremen for officers this ad-
dtional apparatus could be managed by volun-
teers at very little expense to the city.
As the objection may arise that SO many open
hydrantS would endanger the force of the
streams on high land, L would have signal
bell at the gates of the lake works or wherever
the keeper could best attend, to signalize the
want of mora force for given time. This bell
could be operated by the fire alarm officer, and
would require but little extra expense for wire
and building the line to the lake.
All this seems practicable and not very ex-
pensive as compared with the costs of q confla-
grafton, which is at any nom snt possibility
in Portland.
At many fires it is not uncommon to see men,
women and children in the upper rooms rum
ming from window to window seeking an exit
from the flames, and occasionally obliged to
flng themselves from one death to another by
jumping from the height This will call for
some invention to lend helping hand to the
present means. But meantime would depend
good bow-gun, to the arrow of which strong
light cord should be attached to enable those in
the building to draw wire fire escape up to
them.
wish discussion of ways ard means of inn
proving the present very effective, but limited
fire department, might result in developing
some good plan, whoever may be its author.
and that the city fathers may adopt it ere it is
too late. j.