Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18
triets. as one Of the chemical engines of the

capital goes tearing along.
The chemical engines Of fire depart
m Insa, OF which thers are four in the Dis
department The chemical engine is one OF
the most useful, though the smallest, piece
Of fire-hghting apparatus we have. The
engine consists really Of but two big
nickel-plated horizontal cylinders mounted
upon a light but very strong steel Frame
work with small reel of One-inch hose,
$50 feet in length, wound behind the drivers
seat.
The contents Of these cylinders is a mys-
terry to most of us beyond the fact that
they contain chemicals. The tanks are OF
eighty gallons capacity EACH and stream
can be discharged a distance of 12o feet,
though distance is not cont emplated IN
these engines; they are for the m-hShtlnS
Of fire. The tanks hold at all times eighty
gallons of water, in which are placed thirty
two pounds of bicarbonate of soda An au-
tomato separate vessel holds eleven pounds
OF Vltrlol. When chemical engine is call
ed into action the vitriol is poured into the
tanks at the scene of the fire, an operation
taking about ten seconds. A strong gaseous
chemical pressure is instantly generated, in
dicated by guage, and the tiny stream OF
chemicals elected from the hoZe nozzle i'm
mediately eXtinguishes incipient blazes. The
tanks are emptied and refilled after every
fire, for, once the vitriol is used. even
though the contents of the tanks are rot
sprayed upon the fames the tanks must
be empt1ed, usually In a convenient 'culVert
If the fire is too big for the chemical to
handle the steamers get to work, and IN all
cases line OF hose Is detached from one
of the steamers to be held in readiness. the
amount of property saved from destruction,
especially by water. by the chemical en-
gines IN Washington is astonishly large.
While our steamer hose Is fitted with the
controlling nozzle which permits a shut-off
at the nozzle. an automatic relief valve act
Ing a the engine for the escape water,
there Is always more or less damage done
a G.ac Ly,rr ;e1 40, iC %
duced to minimum by the timely use CT
the chemical engine.
Valuable Service Of the Chemical
Engine.
Light, compact, easily handled, drawn by
two fieet-footed horses especially selected
for their running qualities, the chemical
engine is usually in the van in the headlong
race of the different fire apparatus to a fire.
We have but four chemical engines In
Washington, the one in the business section
of the town, known as No. l. on u near
18th street, responding to all fires from the
water front on the south to L street on the
north, AZ street on the east and the White
House on the west. Chief Dutton has much
faith in this class of apparatus, and hopes
to increase their number in the near future.
The chemical engines have performed in
this city invaluable service in fires in jewel
ry, dry goods and other stores in the bust
remaining chemical engines are stationed at
Brightwood, the fine team of which COM
pany Is shown in the accompanying pho
tograph; one at Tenleytown, and the fourth
at Brookland
The Brightwood engine, No. 2, Is in charge
of Foreman John Sherman, veteran of the
force, and in the recent inspection for eX-
cellence ranked second to Truck c, the time
of this company in responding to an alarm
being the best made by any company in
the department at the inspection, a perfect
hitch-up being made in IL % seconds.
Chemical engines cost about $500, weigh
1000 pounds and pay for themselves over
and over again annually in responding to
still alarms alone, putting out small fires
in the business section especially, without
calling out the four steamers and two
trucks which respond to every first alarm,
and then returning quietly to their quar-
tiers.
Splendid Record of the Department.
The splendid record of our department is
a matter for local congratulation. No fire
has yet got away" from it. 1t consists of
twenty-four pieces of apparatus; fourteen
steamers, six trucks and four chemical en-
gnes. While we will have three new high
power engines, the increase is only in power
and not in apparatus, as they will replace
three old engines long ago outliVed their
usefulness. Our fire department should be
increased at least one-third in apparatus
and men to bring it up to a fair standard,
and ought to be doubled in accordance with
the recommendation of Chief Dutton to
bring it up to the responsibilities 1t shout
ders in safeguarding the capital of the ma
ton. and the tens of millions of government
property in buildings. records, etc, which
are practically invaluable.
One of the local features of the city which
is of general interest is the annual parade
of the fire department. Large crowds turn
out to see our fire laddies and the apparatus
The men are at their best, while the ma
chimes are polished to the highest degree.
The coats of the mettlesome horses shine
like satin. and with braided names and
arched necks our fire horses seem to uu-
derstand that the occasion is a gala one,
and that Il large share of the applause
which greets the file of apparatus as it
gistens in the sun on its way down Penn
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