The Washington times., 1901-11-06
FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
An Increased Number of Engines
and Trucks Desired.
work of the Marshal in Examining
Business Houses-A Salvage Corps
and Additional Fire Escapes
Recommended by Chief Dutton.

Robert w Duttor, Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department, yesterday submitted 10
the Commissioners his report of the op-
eratIons OF the department for the fiscal
year ended June 30. 1901. In the report
Chief Dutton states that the department
responded during the year to 40 alarms,
being an increase of Il over the year
previous. OF these 1872 were bell alarms,
and 27S silent. or local, alarms. or the
10 alarms sounded, So were false.
There were, Mr.. Dutton says, 62S fires
during the year, resulting in n loss OF
S2S5, ,G77. The Insurance on The property
involved is not given, because the records
of the department were not 80 kept as
to accurately furnish such information.
1t is known, however, that the insurance
on the property burned many times ex-
ceeded the loss for the year.
The report then summarizes the data
with reference to frame and brick build
ings and the losses from fires in each.
Mr.. DuttOn refers 10 the strength of the
department and offers certain suggestions
relative to its Improvement. He suggests
that the addition of several steamers
hose carriages, and trucks are needed 10
bring the department up to the require
ments of an efficient fire-fighting force Tor
the city OF Washington
Chief Dutton suggests a further reor-
ganization of the department beyond
that OF placing an executive officer at its
head. such as would put its members on
the same basis as those of the Police De-
partment.
with reference to the purchase and care
Of horses in the department Chief Dut-
ton says:
The greatest care is taken in the pur-
chase OF these animals. and before being
accepted they are subjected to not less
than fifteen days trial. They must not
be less than sixteen nor more than seven
teen hands in height, between 1900 and
l.500 pounds in weight, free of bad habits
and well broken, of good disposition. well
and sound. and of bay, brown, black, or
grey color. These requirements fix a very
high standard, and 1t is believed the
horses Of the department are INFERIOR 10
those of no other department In TINS coun-
4 portion of the report deals with the
work of the fire Marshal, and Is summar-
iZed follows:
Much of the time Of the Fire Marshal
was devoted during the past year TO lhe
examination of cellars. During the hr5I
several months he found many cellars al
most made impassable BY the great
amount of waste and rubbish. some OF IL
of a very intiammable character, stored
in them. Where such conditions were
found the occupants or owners 81 the
premises were notified and directed to
clean out the cellar in short order. To
facilitate the work of the FIRE Marshal
and of the department the police regula-
tions were amended upon its recommends
ton so as to authorize the Chief Engineer.
the assistant chief engineers and the Fire
Marshal to enter upon, at reasonable
hours any premises for the purpose or
mination. the amendment providing
penalty for interference with or obstruc-
ton of such examination, ans also pen
atty for failure to remedy conditions
found by the examining officers to be such
as to cndanger public safety.
Chief Dutton recommends the establish
ment OF a salvage corps, and he calls at
tention especially to the law in reference
to fire escapes, saying:
1T is respectfully submitted that the
character of a building rather than it's
height should determine the question of
whether or not it should be equipped with
fire escapes. That is If the building be
so constructed as TO plnce 1t in the class
known fast-burning structures. the
owner should be required TO equip II with
fire escapes. Then. too, the purpose Tor
which a building IS to be Used should no
less fully determine the same question.
For instance. II IL is to be occupied as a
hotel apartment house. school, hospital,
or for any like purpose, It's occupancy
supplied with fire escapes, though II does
not reach height of 50 feet.
chief Dutton thus comments tine suS-
gestions of the Superintendent u the
Water Department relative 10 the INTRO
duction of the high pressure water ser
vice:
This department heartily endorses the