The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
THE PARIS FIRE Chief
Colonel Varigault of the "Sa-
peurs ct PompierS"
Arrives Here.
ON A TOUR OF INSPECTION.
The French Capital Pays Less for
Its Fire Department Than
San Francisco.

Colonel Varigault, Chief of the Fire De-
partment of Paris, and two OF his assist
ants arrived here yesterday. They were
sent out by the city of Paris to examine
and report upon the fire departments OF
the United States and Canada, and have
been in this country some time, having
visited the principal Eastern cities.
Colonel Varigault is officially known as
commandant of the regiment OF "sapperD
and bumpers" of Paris, who, although
composing regiment belonging to the
War Department., are the firemen of Paris.
The gentlemen accompanying the Chlef
are Major Krebs and Captain Cordler.
1t is their intention to remain here about
a week and make an examination OF the
San Francisco Fire Department. On Tues
day they will, with the French Consul, call
on Mayor Sutro and then on the Fire Com
missioners and Chief Sullivan.
1.-The sappers and bumpers are organized
and belong to the War Department, said
the colonel last evening at the Grand.
"They are loaned to the city OF Paris and
compose the whole fire department. and
number about 100 men and 80 officers.
The cost of maintenance and equipment is
all paid by the city"
Asked about the points OF difference he
had noticed between the fire departments
of this country and that OF Paris, he said:
1.-THE main cause for the differences is the
greater height of buildings in this country.
AS consequence a larger system and
higher and more powerful apparatus are
required. In the main the engines,
ladders, hose and other machinery and
organization are much the same. Two
things made use of here that we do not
have are the water-tower and chemical
engine. We do not require the chemical
engines, for most OF our fires are small and
confined to single rooms and are easily put
out. There is much less opportunity for
fires to spread with US on account of the
regulations requiring all the floors and
walls to be so well built.
$50 far as I can see your fire depart
ments are admirably organized wherever I
have been, and very well equipped.
"The regulations in Paris as to the put
ting up of buildings are much more strict.
You know the city is all powerful, and
there is exercised very strict supervision
of all buildings oeing put up. The houses
in Paris are better built to prevent fire
from spreading. In nine cases out of ten
a fire will be confined to single room.
AS a consequence there is less need of
flooding whole house with water, and
much less damage is incurred by fire.
Fires are confined to much smaller space.
mo factories are allowed to be built in
dangerous proximity TO houses, and every
means is adopted to prevent fires. All
arcnlteCtS plans are examined ana II not
satisfactory must be changed"
Asked as to the speed with which the
machines were turned out the colonel said
that from the time an alarm was turned in
not more than a minute at the outside
would elapse before everything was under
way. In most cases it took considerable
less.
1.-THE total cost of the Fire Department
of Paris, - he said. sis about 1900, OO0 francs
per year, or $500, OOO." One of the gentle-
men present told the Chief that the cost
of the San Francisco Fire Department was
third more than that, "and that with a
population about sixth of that of Paris