The evening world., 1890-07-15
new FIRE CODE IN OPERATION.
A Fourth and Fifth Alarm Added
to the System.
Some Important Changes - Last
Calls Under the Old Plan.

The new FIRE code went into operation
at O'Clock this morning, and the firemen
throughout the city watched anxiously
for the first signal that would be sent by
the new system.
1t is expected that the new system will
be great improvement over the old one
A years work was given by Fire Chief
Bonner and several assistants to it's con-
struction.
The last fires to which the fremen we're
summoned by the old system occurred
early this morning.
At 8. 10 o'clock dangerous fire was dis
covered In the three-story brown stone
residence, 99s East Thirty.frst street
The fire gained great headway, and it
required hard work on the part Of the
firemen to eItinguish it.
The house was occupied by Mrs. Cath
crime FoRerty, who loses $4,000.
At 5.4O there was another FIRE in tho
downtown district. 1t started on the
fifth floor of the six-story brown-ston
Office building, 90 Nassau street.
The FIRE, when first discovered, was in
an apartment occupied by A. Grabos. q
jeweller. The firemen were prompt in
arriving and succeeded in putting Il out
after $500 damage had been caused, di-
vided equally between stock and build
Ing.
Sixteen minutes before O'Clock. when
the new signalling code went into effect.
there was another call in an uptown dis
trIct. That was tho last call under the
old system.
Then the fremen began waiting for n
fire when they would be given an oppor-
tunity to test the new system.
1t is estimated that over one million
figures have been used in constructing
the improved system.
The new arrangement has been made
owing to the city's great growth having
rendered the old one inadequate TO the
Departments requirements.
Many formerly remote uptown districts
have become 30 densely crowded that
more local fire companies need to be
called out on first or second alarm,
while some of the districts that were i'm
portant are not now 30 much so.
One OF the principal and more impor-
tant changes 10 the increase in the num-
ber of alarms at fire company houses
from first, second and third alarms to
fourth and fifth alarms. II has been de-
termined TO introduce u sixth alarm some
time in the future If the present system is
a success.
The reason for introducing the new
alarms Is that chief was not ALWAYS able
&c call out enough engines without sum
moning too many.
When o third alarm was sent out II was
sometimes found impracticable to send
special" and in the excitement of fire
a chief sometimes made q mistake and
sent out for more engines than were
really needed.
The number of engines and trucks to
be called on fourth and fifth alarm
varies according to the district where they
are needed, as many as twenty five en-
gines responding in some of the moro i'm
portant districts.
For use in big Are where it is neces-
sary TO work rapidly, the three skies "
Is still retained in the new system.
The new code covers 999 signalling
but will have TO be reconstructed
again when I, 900 points are TO be covered,
There have been changes in nearly all
the special calls, and an important change
in the rule requiring that in each fire.
house below the Harlem River o reserve
force be held while the men In the regular
detail Is at FIRE. in order that all points
of the city may be constantly protected.
the Department had no opportunity of
the operation of the new sys
tenn Rs not single alarm had been rung