Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-03
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Yearly Report Of the chief-A New
Engine Needed

1
On Monday the Fire Commissioners viii
make their annual report to the City Trus
tees. The report of Chief Sullivan to the
Commissioners says that, although the de-
partment has at various times encountered
more than ordinary danger. no fatal accident
or permanent injury has been sustained by
any member. Tie only instance where FIRE
was attended by loss of life was on the night
of November ., when woman wa;
burned to death in small dwelling
inst north of the Pioneer mills There were
| les alarms during the year, only 62 being
general alarms, and total loss of Sol, 595
| On the property there was $3.50 400 insur.
| snce, and $50, 755 Ia losses were paid by the
| insurance companies The hres of the
GREATEST magnitude were those of the Mesick
| block and the Golden Eagle Hotel stables,
| the former on the 23i cf September, and the
| latter on Nov mber 29th. There was but
one accident during the year, which disabled
| member Of the department, occurring on
! the 23l OF July, when Henry Comte,
engineer Of No l, fell from the coal-box to
| The pavement, and fractured leg.
| The department horses and working appli-
ances are all in good condition, but
are ttD llbhGsL bAlt " hCAAAtpA OA4Ns
REQUIRES protection, and inadequate TO meet
| such emergencies as sre liable 20 arise at any
time. The discipline row in vogue IL the
department begets a leudable ambition to
excel, and insures that dexterity Of action
which is of such great Importance. Three
new horses were added during the year, and
two retired. One new alarm box-No 6l-
has been put in place at Twelfth and ID
streets. There has been 2.0OO feet Of new
hose purchased, which, with the old, makes
Z, 2l4 feet 10 service, but some OF the old hose
is very much worn, and wonld not be reliable
in case of a large FIRE. A new roof is needed
on Truck House No. l. and new floor in
Engine House No. l. There is required at
least 1000 feet mora hose. A horse aud sup
ply.wagon is needed for the purpose Of in
5pecting and repairing the fre.alarm
telegraph, and for looking after
EXPOSED locslities in the outlying
| ire limits, and it would soon pay for itself by
saving expenses which are now incurred. The
| Chief recommends that toe g swinging har
ness be introduced SIS soon as possible also
.that heaters be placed in the engine houses IN
| connection with the engine boilers, 50 that a
few pounds of steam may be kept constantly.
| The Department stands in need OF suitable
corporation house, the ons now IN use not be-
| ing adequate to the purpose.
| The Chief calls especial attention TO the
| fact that steam fire engine and hose car
rage should be placed il service 10 the east
ern portion OF the city, to protect the prop
| erty in that locality, and suggests that il be
| kept in the vicinity of Sixteenth street, snd
that No. l steamer be not allowed to go be-
i yond Tenth street, excepting In rare emer-
gencies.
In case of extensive conflagration sr in
case of two large fires at the same time,
80 rs iar Iiahla m
the inadequscy of the present department
apparatus would be at once revealed. Sacra-
msnto has escaped disastrous conf 4gration
for years, which is owing mainly to fortu-
nate combination of circumstances. The city
has no reason to consider itself exempt from
such calamity; on tho contrary, under car
tain conditions Of wind and weather it is ia-
Bile to be imperiled. Other cities more safely
constructed and far better protected hsve
suffered There are some other matters of i'm
portance to which he calls attention, and which
require remedial measures. The placing OF
heavy or cumbersome articles on wooden
awnings, the erection of substantial fences,
lstticework or picket barriers thereon, all Of
which are liable to form serious obstacles to
iremen and the use of ladders, and add much
TO danger and delay in the extinction Of fire.
The existence Of frame structures in eX-
; posed situations in back areas,
The keeping of explosive materials in such
quantity and manner as TO endaDger life and
property. The evils just pointed out are es-
| pecially true Of the Chinese quarter of the
city.
! He also calls attention to the water pipa
| system in some quarters OF the city, and says
| the branch pipes leading from the mains are
inadequate TO supply water for tie steamers
in event Of q fire. they being scarcely large
enough to feed one hydrant, while they are
compelled to supply several This is fault
that calls for prompt remedy. Wells should
| be sunk in different parts of the city to guard
| sgainst accident to the mains, which might
| interrupt the water. supply.
All public buildings should be inspected,
with view to ascertain the means of safe
exit for occupants in Gaze of fre, and where
unsafe, the owner should be notified and d.
rected to remedy the defects. This rec }m-
mendation is especially applicable to the pub
lie schools A system Of fire drill might be
instituted IN the various schools, having for
it's object the instruction of the children in
making an exit in coed order and in the
quickest possible time.
The Chief desires TO acknowledge the re-
ceipt of several sums Of money contributed to
the charitable furd Of the department. He
refers to the State of New York, where such
fund is secured By statute enactment, and
hopes some means will be devised through
which more ample fund can be obtained
here. He thinks plot should be purchased
in the City Cemetery and set apart for the
department.
The report concludes by rendering thanks
TO Chief Engineer Foster, of the water
works, and bis assistants, to Ysrdmaster
Hollorsn, of the c. P. r. R., and TO the
Chief of Police and the members of the
police force.
r. A. Fisk, Superintendent Fire Alarm
Telegraph, submitted his report. showing
that there are Is miles of wire and % boxes.
He reports much difficulty in keeping the
gongs Ia working order, and states that they
viii soon have to be replaced by new ones.