Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-08
AUGUSTA fIaEmEH.
Their rquipmenss-Numbsr Of Msn-coed
Record-Intsresifng Facts.

This city has one of the best FIRE depart
meats ia the State. Only few minutes
.fter the alarm sounds the firemen are al
ray. to be found where the fire is. Not
only are they on the spot, but are prepared
to fight and subdue the fismes, no matter
where the scene Of confagra.ion may be.
Precautions to avoid fire may be made,
in 80 far as it i, possible, nevertheless, it
bursts out unawares, and the only hope of
.sving anything is through the brave and
earnest work of the fire department. There
are IS men in the Augusta fire department.
These men are divided into companies
Each company is located at different part
of the city. Cushnoc No. l, on Bridge
street Atlantics No. 2, Cony street.; Vol
uuteer No 3, Cushnoc Heights; Pine Tree
No. 4, Pet.ingills Corner Capital No. 5,
State street; Hook and Ladder Company
No. l, foot of Cony street. All of these
have houses for their equipments.
In all there are six companies. The de-
pntu,ent and companies are organized
every year under the chief engineer. There
are fifteen men in the Hook & Ladder
company They have one Bangor extern
zion ladder, several roof ladders, and others
for general climbing. Each member of
this company gets $50 per year. There
are line hose carriages, and about G300
feet Of hose. The men who have the
charge of the hose. carriages, ETC., receive
1925 per year. The chief engineer says he
think, the Hook aad Ladder Company
should be located on Water street, at
Moody's livery stable. There is about 1900
feet of new cotton hose. During the past
year new striker has been placed in the
Calitol Hose house at an expense of $4C0,
completed.
The means for harne ssing the
horses is Of the latest convenience,
and the method used at the At
lsntic house IS one invented by the members
of the company. The harnesses hang by
cords and can be fastened to the horses
very quickly, in fact, in an instant. The
Volunteers are the running team of the
department. The Pine Tree Company
looks after fires rang in from boxes, AZ, As,
40. The Capitals, boxes 81, Sc, 81. The
Atlantic and Cushnoc companies turn cut
to fires in any part of the city. If the fire
is seemingly disastrous and more assistance
is required the chief engineer can ring in
three blasts for company No. 3, snd four
for the company of that number,
and go on. Any company called
from its district is paid 40 cents extra
per hour. The officers of the companies
get $50, $50 and $40 per year each, accord
ing to rank. TIE members receive S25
each.
The members of the Atlantic Company
paid out of their own pockets, 1913 for i'm
provements for their equipments during the
past year. This company has an old silver
trumpet, which was won at contest held
in Bath in 1867. The work was done with
an old hand tub. The department has one
steam engine, Cushnoc No. l, which is of
the best pattern made.
During the past year 43 alarms were rung
in. There were 81 fires, with loss of
Sl3,557,30, covered by Sl3, 1928 so, insur-
ance. The average number of alarms
during the past few years has
been about 40. All the companies,
excepting two, have the regulation firemans
uniform. There are 80 ny drants located
about the city. Each company of the depart
ment has foreman, assistant foreman, and
clerk Charles w. Kicker, the present chief
engineer of the fire department, has served
over IL years as fireman, and is not only
experienced in fighting fires, but possesses
good judgment. The various members OF
the department are not fremen for the
money they ceive, but because they have
worked up an interest in it. The pay is very
small, considering the risk taken, and the
hard work. No matter how stormy or cold
the night, the alarm calls for those on
whom the entire city ponds for protection