Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-03-03
THE YEARS FIRES.
A Total Of Sd for 1903 With
Loss Of $89,573.
The Equipment and Needs Of the Fire
Department.
In 1902 the Fire Loss of Augusta Was
Only $10,742.

Chief Engineer Chas. w. Kicker of
the fire department, has submitted to
the municipal officers, his report for
the year 1903. 1t is in substance as fol-
lows: There have been during the year
50 fires. of which "a were still alarms.
The fire losses of the year were sSa.-
$3.50, with an insurance Of $SO,335 80.
The loss over and above insurance was
S9.23S. and of this amount $6,4OO was out
of the fire district The greatest loss
was on the Meonian and Union hall fire
which was as nearly as could be esti-
mated, s6?, ,G03.55. and the smallest. $i1O.
was on thn residence OF Otis Douglass
on Melville street
The fire loss of last year was an un-
usually heavy one, heavier than it has
been for many years. Compared with
the total loss of the year 1902, it is far
in excess. The following are the fig
urcs given on the losses of the year
above mentioned. The total fire loss
was SO, 1926, on which there was an
Insurance of $S.53...S Total loss over
and above insurance. S2.2O5.OO. Total
| loss by fire within fire limits. $6,136.O5
| on which there was an insurance of S.,
69GO5. Total loss over and above in
| surance, $4,000.
The apparatus on hand consists Of
one 2-horse combination hose and lad
der wagon, with two hand eXtinguish-
! crs. and capacity for 200 feet of
hose: one 2-hOrse hose wagon with four
cxtirguishers. and the same capacity
| for hose: one new hook and ladder
truck. with 215 feet of ladders and four
three twO-wheelod hose carts carrying
SOC feet of hose each. one new 4-whccl-
| ed hose wagon. carrying 100 feet of
hose. and one steamer in reserve.
There are on han'l 1.050 feet of cotton
ruher lined fire hose. 4.500 feet of which
| is in good shape. $500 feet fairly good.
ana $500 fee. which has been used in
the street and sewer departments for n
few years.
The fire department contains .3 men,
| including the chief engineer and two
assistant engineers. the force being di-
vidcd as follows: Hose and Ladder Co.
No. ]. II men: Hose =. IL men; Hook
and Ladder Co. No. l, II men; Hose 5.
4. and 5. 10 men each: three drivers and
one engineer for the steamer, who re-
pairs all damaged hose.
A. number OF improvements in the de-
partment are recommended by Chief
Kicker. among them being all iron
trucks 70 be laid in the houses of Hose
and 2. for the purpose of hauling in
wagons on runners, as it is very diff
cult getting the wagons into the house
when returning from a fire. There are
also a number of improvements in the
sanitary line. besides others to which
the consideration Of the board is in
vited.
The improvements i'm the department
for the year have been Il hook and
ladder truck the compressed air plant
at the city building. a new hose wagon
for Hose 5, the purchase of 4 team Of
horses for Hose 2. a set of runners for
the hook and ladder truck. an extension
on the house OF Hose 1. and 20 new cells
added to the storage battery in the city
building Several fire alarm boxes have
been cleaned and put back. n flush
closet has been built in the house oe
Hose /. and closets have been built in
the houses OF Hose | and :. for keeping
dry, clean hose. Five hundred feet of
hose has been bought, also a combina-
tion nozzle.