The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-12
Department Could Not Cope With a
Serious Fire.
OPINION OF THE CHIEF
SAYS PUBLIC DOES NOT REAL
IZE THE DANGER.
Department Should Be Increased to
Forty-five Men and More Appar-
atus Is Needed-Salt Lake Away
Behind Other Cities-Cou1d Make
Saving In Insurance Rates.

(
1T is plain that the Salt Lake pub
lie does not realize the danger from fire
10 which the city is subjected every
day, or more adequate means of coping
with the destructive element would be
demanded
That has been the unqualified express
sion of every expert who has had oc-
oasion to visit the Salt Lake fire de-
partment since the city became of any
size. A few weeks ago The Herald
published an interview with Fire Mar
shall Towe of San Francisco, than
whom no better authority exists, in
which he expressed actual dismay over
the lack of fire protection in Salt Lake,
pointing out the discrepancies in de-
tail and the apparent non-appreciation
of the taxpayers of existing conditions.
With view to learning more fully the
needs of the FIRE department, Chief De-
vine was seen yesterday, and it is per-
fectly plain that he agrees with Mar
shat Towe, whose views on Salt Lake
were reproduced in many of the east
ern fire journals, with extensive COM
ment.
Below the Standard.
Chief Devine contends that the local
department is far below the standard
in the number of men and the equip
ment for city of this size.
Why" said he, while the fire area
and fire hazard has continually in
creased in Salt Lake, the department,
instead of being enlarged, has actually
been reduced. until the city today shows
smaller fire force than any of its size,
IN area, population or commercial i'm
portance in the United States. 1t has
been argued that our wide streets pre-
vent the probability of any serious con-
Migration, but the truth is that the
great area covered by each block is a
positive detriment to the fire depart
ment. We can burn ten acres of the
commercial district in this city without
crossing a street, and that would make
a pretty comfortable fire in itself. We
could have a $1,000, 900 fire without
burning half a block. l say our large
blocks are a detriment to the fire de-
partment, because in many instances it
would take long lines of hose to reach
the rear of our buildings, thereby de-
tracing from our water pressure, as
well as making our lines more difficult
TO handle.
This objection to our large blocks is
particularly true in fires occurring at
night, often starting in the rear of
buildings when all ways of prompt in
gresS are securely closed. causing at
times delay that leads to serious cod
sequences. Take il altogether there is
in favor of the claim. Denver,
with its ordinary blocks and systemat-
ically laid out alleys running through
the blocks IN both directions, is much
better situated than Salt Lake.
Saving In Insurance Rates.
. h.
they could save enough in fire insur-
ance premiums TO pay a tax sufficient
to maintain a first-clasS fire depart-
ment? 1t has been said that the insur-
ance rates are too high. That may be.
but why is it?
L am not an insurance expert but
do not think the people have any just
cause for complaint in that direction.
Fire insurance is business proposition,
and rates are based on the merit of the
risk, as the cost of life insurance is
based on the probability of life. The
man who puts up a business block to-
day VIII receive a standard rate on his
building if il is constructed in con-
formity with standard requirements,
so the CITY that maintains standard
fire department, together with a suf-
ficient water supply, will be rated on u
standard basis. The insurance COM
panies regard a standard fire depart
ment one that has two steamers or four
hose companies to each 10000 popula--
ton, that is, in the commercial or pop
ulas center: that would mean, | pre-
sumo, about the equipment for. about
10000 population in the less populous
or residence portion of the CITY
There should be ten men TO each
steamer company, or nine men to each
company where the gravity system is
used
truck TO every four hose COM
panies. with twelve men to a truck;
also one chemical engine company to
every four hose companies. Our de-
parIment is so far from this standard
that 1 do not care to enumerate
IF the fire department was brought
up TO what insurance men recognize
as standard department, 1 believe
that a great difference would be made
IN the rating of this city. 1t is my
that we receive credit
now OF Is per cent for our fire depart
ment, and l am led to believe if our |
water supply and fire department were |
up to the standard we would have an
additional credit of 20 to % per cent /
more. So you see, if 1 am correct in /
these conclusions, the poor taxpayer
would be making a good investment.
Diverting slightly from the subject, /
your readers may be surprised to learn |
hat the z. c. NJ. !. pays out in insur- /
lnce premiums annually more than /
the cost of maintaining our /
present fire department.
What the City Needs.
Il can say that We should not have |
ess than forty-five full paid men. We !
low have twenty-eight. This would /
lot be nearly the force that is employed |
n cities of much smaller population, |
and of much less commercial import |
ince. Take Spokane, for instance, a |
.ity about two-thirds the size of Salt I
lake, has six engine houses and about |
ifty-five men. Erie. Pa, which l Wis /
ted il September. is a city with less /
population than ours, and has fewer |
arge buildings and commercial houses, |
yet they are erecting their eighth en-
zine house, and in the seven houses
which were equipped when l was there
hey had siXfy-siX men; and so / might |
20 on and enumerate cities by the
iozen. Salt Lake City has by all odds
ne smallest fire department of any
ity Of its population in the United !
states, or. indeed. the continent of |
iu.erica. 1t is almost needless 60 add /
nat we have not the apparatus to cope
With a serious fire"