The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-04
FIRE TRAINING.
Commissioner Erickson Says
the Jersey City Men
Have None.
RAW RECRUITS UNTAUCHT
School Will Be Established
for Ladder Scaling and
Raising and Life
Saving.


of Fire Commissioners, has a plan which
will, If carried Out. practically ~reorganize
the department in this city. His idea
is a practical one, and one in which he
will endeavor to interest his colleagues
in the Board. Mr.. Erickson was seen at
Fire Headuarters last evening by a
News reporter just previous to a meet
ing of the Board. He was asked If there
was any system for training raw firemen
In this city.
present there is none, he replied;
but that is just the matter I intend to
get at as soon as possible. A thorough
training is absolutely essential in order
to prepare raw men to battle with flames.
Men appointed now go into an engine
house with practically no knowledge of
how fires should be fought.
my idea, for a year, has been to inn
prove this department and bring it on
a par with the best of those in the United
States. I lave found out during my term
in office that fully one-half of the men
in the department know little or nothing
about climbing ladders. l nave also dis
covered that, for lack of training, the
men in charge of the aerial trucks are not
as efficient as they might be-"
Mr.. Erickson said he found no fault
with the men, but he insists that the
blame for the ineficiency rests with those
who formerly were in charge of the de-
partment. He has the interests of the
department at heart and he declares en-
phatically that the department should at
tain a degree of efficiency of which
everyone will be proud. He says that he
finds the men all a little backward in
the life saving business. To this matter
he intends to devote most of his time.
His proposition to establish a training
school will cost the city nothing, he says.
Arrangements are being made with the
New York Fire Department to have a
member of the local department enter the
New York training school. Some bright,
able-bodied young man will be selected.
He will be kept in New York until he
has attained a degree of proficiency in the
l~ife-saving business which will enable
him to occupy the position of instructor
in this city.
Mr.. Erickson proposes to hire a build
ing in a remote part of the city for the
training school, where the residents will
not be disturbed. The first thing the men
VIII JIG LaQSilH Will OC I S&aAC dddN1 ..
| This, Mr.. Erickson says, is one of the
most essential things for a fireman to
learn. Every day a certain number of
men will be taken from each company
and put through a drill. The ladder prac-
tice will be kept up until the men are
thoroughly versed in this all-important
line of work. Such practice will prepare
them to scale a ladder. and if occasion
| requires rescue people from burning
| buildings with ease. At present, the Com
| missioner thinks, the men get ratified
occasionally when. attending fires of a
| serious nature. Although they possess
the required amount of courage their in
| ability to scale ladders handicaps them.
After a good course in ladder
| climbing has been gone through,
ladder raising will be praeticed. The men
do fairly we'll at that now, where they
have no Instructions to cope with, but
they seem wholly unable to do the right
kind of work and that rapidly when there
is anything in the way. Lack Of conf
| dence is responsible for this. Practice,
| the Commissioner said, will remedy this
defect.
The first course of instruction as map
pcQ OQl LII y GAANhSOh > PAUiiS 10 sN
| spreading of nets into which people may
| jump from burning buildings. Nets have
| seldom, if ever, been used in this city
for the reason that there are so few
high buildings. President Erickson be-
| lieves that it is well to prepare for emer-
gencies, and with that object in view nets
| will be introduced more extensively.
Dummies will be used in the practice
| work.
The plans of the COMMISSIONS have
| been suggested to captains of the sew
eral engine companies. They heartily APP
prove of it. In addition to improving the
efficiency of the department 1T will give
the men an opportunity for exercise
| which will keep them in better condition
| physically for the important performance
of their duties.
Captain John Jobes of No. 10 engine, on
Holiday street, told a News reporter
that training was what the men needed
more than anything else.
"They are put into these positions he
said. with no knowledge of the duties
awaiting them, and half of the men know
| nothing about the work" He spoke en-
| Enthusiastically of Mr.. Erlckson's plan.
| which he said would be carried out as
| soon as possible.
Mr.. Erickson hopes to go ahead with
| these plans Immediately.