Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-27
LOCAL INgaALIGENgs..
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Some Interesting Statistics Furnished by
Chief Engineer O'Meara.

Chief Engineer O'Meara.
Chief Engineer oMeara, of the Fire Depart
ment. has submitted his second annual report to
the Board of Fire Commissioners and the same
will be printed. He says:
The past year has been noted for the scarcity
OF large fires, there being none of importance
with the exception of the damage to the stable
OF Mr.. Smith on March %, 1885, and again on
February y, 1889. He also recommends the
organization of fire patrol He is of the opin-
ion that the benefit derived from it would fully
repay the cost of its maintenance.
de recommends that fire drill be adopted in
all the schools and be frequently practiced as 1t
may some day be the means OF saving many
The ordinance against the storing of combustis
bles and explosives within the city limits
should be more rigidly enforced. The engines
are all in first class order. He recommends
that Nos. and be painted and reserve no X
and ladder truck be thoroughly overhauled
Engine house No. l. should have new floors
new ceiling and the front succeed or painted
Sliding poles should also be put in from the sec
ond to the first floor
Engine house No. ? should have new floor
new ceiling and sliding pole.
Engine house No. 8 should b. painted
The hook and ladder house on sixth street is
in good condition and a credit to the CITY, II is
suggested that the vacant room on the second
floor be used az meeting room for the Fire
Commissioners, their present quarters being
needed for store-room.
One thousand feet of hose should be pur-
chased.
He recommends that four fire-alarm boxes be
placed in conyenien: positions east of Twentieth
street; also box at the east end of the Southern
Pacific Railroad machine shop, from where box
~ was removed; also one at the Capital Gas
Company works, at Front and streets.
The total manual force of the department is
month: Assistant Chief, $50; three engineers of
steamers, 500; three drivers OF steamers, SIS:
three drivers of hose-carts. s75; one driver of
hook and ladder, SIS; one tillernan hook and
ladder, SO; three foremen of engine companies
so each; one foreman hook and ladder, $50:
twenty-five extramen OF engine companies, 500;
five extramen hook and ladder, So one Super
intendent Fire Alarm, ELS.
OF the apparatus in service, there are two
second class Amoskeag and one third class
Clapp a. Jones engines, three two-wheeIec hose
carts, one second-class Hayes hook and ladder
truck, and one Chief Engineers buggy
In reserve there are one second-class Amos
keag engine, one kimball hook and ladder
truck, one four wheeled hose carriage and two
two-wheeled hose. carts. There are twelve
horses in the service.
During the year there has been placed in
each of the engine houses and in the Corpora
ton House one of Edison's fire extinsuishers.
During the year there were e. runs and co
fires causing loss OF some $1,000, which was
covered by nearly 5000 insurance. The fires
were caused as follows: Hot ashes, l; boiling
tar, l; explosion steam pipe !; defective fiue, l.
gas explosion, 8; electric light, l; false alarm
= friction, /; gasoline, /: lamp explosion g;
spontaneous combustion, 3; skyrocket, l; -four
dust, l; sparks, 6; ineendiary, IS; matches A.
grass, L; chimney burning out, s.
As to months, the distribution of alarms were
as follows: March, 9; April, 4;sMsy, 2; June >:
July, S; August, T. September, S; October 81:
November, 3; December, 3; January, 6; Febru
airy, 4.
Superin enGent Fisk of the fire alarm reports
that the city now has 80 miles of fire telegraph
stretched upon go poles. The report appends
list of the property in that branch of the
service, all of which is reported to be in good
condition.
Secretary Seymour has filed an elaborate re-
port of the work of the year past. in the course
of which ne referred to the death of ex Chief
Engineer Con Sullivan and to the esteemed
services of the deceased in the Department
The Secretary adds that while the Board has
reason 10 feel satisfied over the result of It's ad
.ministration, it realizes that there is much yet
to be done which IL will not hesitate to do
whenever and wherever the interests of the city
demand il