Evening star., 1902-08-08
Annual Report Regarding
Fires in the District.
THE EXTR A ALARMS
DEPARTMENTS WEAKNESS IN
CASE OF GENERAL ALARM.
Increasing Demand for Additional
Steam Companies - Suggestions
Regarding Territory Covered.

As the senior officer of the fire-fghting
force Of the District fire department, WILL
lam T. Belt. senior assistant chief engi-
neer. has submitted to Chief Engineer Rob
ert w. DuttOn a report of the fire-fghting
done in the District during the past fiscal
year. The chief items of that statement
follow:
In the first place. am glad to be able
to state that the loss during the past year
was the smallest in twelve years, and that
it was less than one-half of that suffered
the previous year.
During the past year the extra alarms
were as follows: Five second, three third,
one fourth. one fifth and one sixth.
The sixth alarm. which preceded by
q third, was sent In from box 41J, at 5:29
pm. April 12 1902, for a fire on the river
front. and one which proved the most
disastrous of the year This fire started in
a wood shed. in the rear of the American
Ice COmpanys plant, at the foot of 10Th
street southwest. Despite the fact that a
very high wind was blowing when the fire
started, it was soon under control, but had
1t not been for the hard and very effective
work Of the department the destruction Of
practically the entire river front would have
resulted. The wind carried embers quite a
distance. and buildings squares away were
thus set afre. Fortunately, these fires
did not occur until the first was under such
control to permit the dispatching of COM
panies to work them. and they were
soon subdued.
River Front a Reminder.
The river front fire a forcible re-
minder Of the inadequacy of the depart
ment, what would have been its weak
ness had the subsequent fires occurred IN
different sections of the city, instead of
CURED the evening Of the same day, a
third alarm being sent in from box 317,
26th and K streets, for a fire in the stable
of the Arlington BOttlng Company, at
time when number of the companies were
still engaged at the river front fire, and
while others were on the streets returning
to their quarters. Fortunately. again. the
fire for which the third alarm was sent in
was soon under control. but had this fire
taken place earlier. when the sixth alarm
had called the whole fire-fghting force of
the department to the river front, a most
disastrous conflagration would have re-
suited in the western section. Such thing
is likely to occur at any moment, and when
ii does the departments inability to handle
two large fires, or. indeed, one large and
small fire at the same time, will be
most un9leasantly impressed upon the
community.
By Way of Illustration.
ITO illustrate, supposing the river front
theaters were occupied. and a fire had
started in one of the playhouses. It would
have been simply impossible to have got
ten companies up from the river front fire
II time 20 prevent the total destruction of
the theater, and, in all probability, the
loss of hundreds of lives The department
should be so strengthened. and at once, as
u enable the holding in reserve of force
al least as strong as the department is to-
day
The fifth alarm was sent in from box Ga
AT 10 pm. November 10 1901 for fire
in a large wholesale feed house on Del
aware avenue between CT and II streets
northeast. a third and fourth alarm pre-
Ceding the fifth. The building was filled
with hay. straw and other infia mmable
materials, and when the department arriv-
ed the structure was blazing from top TO
bottom The water tower was placed in
service at this fire and clearly demonstrated
its usefulness and great value. Twelve ec-
gines and four truck companies were en-
gagged at this fire. leaving the District for
the time dependent upon the two engine
companies in reserve. The other extra
alarm fires gave the department little trou-
BE.
II do not feel that I can too forcibly
speak Of the weakness Of the department in
the matter OF steam engine companies
There are but fourteen of these companies
In the department today. a number entirely
too small when the great territory required
TO be covered is considered This territory
II should be remembered, embraces not only
the whole OF the District of Columbia but
also the large United States military post
at Fort Myer. Virginia. There are also
other places outside the District which the
department could not well refuse to aid in
the event of a serious fire.
Additions Noted.
The department has been strengthened
during the past year by the installation of
number Of modern and improved appIi-
ances. and the three powerful steamers now
In service. very materially strengthen 1t.
During the last six months of the year
i inspected most of the hotels, all of the
theaters and many of the asylums apart
ment houses and like structures. for the
purpose of ascertaining whether the laws
and regulations providing for the pTOtec-
ton OF life and property were being OBJ
served In but a single instance did I find
that. in every particular these laws and
regulations had been respected. Ny re-
ports on these buildings Were forwarded by
order Of the honorable Commissioners to
the inspector of buildings for his action.
and / am glad TO report that in a majority
or cases those owning or in charge of the
buildings have cO-Operated with the au-
thortties In carrying out the recommended
tions made by me and approved by the de-
partment for the better protection of life
and property.
1T gives me great pleasure to report that
the officers and men under my command
have rendered during the past year very
prompt and efficient service at all times"
The Thunder Flower.
From the London Globe.