The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-12

In the past two weeks the heavy fire
losses In Birmingham have caused many
questions to be asked regarding tho
efficiency of the fire department in Bir-
mingham, and what 1t would require to
prevent these losses.
For nearly three years have been In
daily touch with the department, and
am probably more familiar with its needs
than ony one not officially connected
wit 1t. There has been much adverse
criticism of the department and its work,
and 1t has been unjust. For its size
there is no department in the country
more efficient, but 1t is expected to cover
the same amount of territory that de-
partments of almost twice it's size cover
In other cities. Chiefs of fire departments
from other cities have visited this city
and have expressed great surprise at the
excellent work Of the department.
Old Fire Traps.
Many conditions.will have to be changed
to make 1t possible to fight fires sue
cessfully in Birmingham. There are hun
dreds of old buildings in the city which
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and weak, they are cheaply constructed
and as soon as the heat becomes at all
fierce, the walls crumble and fall, spread
Ing the flames to adjoining buildings. 1t
was this that caused the heavy losses on
First avenue. The wall of the building
which caught first fell in and spread the
flames into three buildings In the i'm
rrt.1
made 1t impossible for the firemen to get
at the fire. The same was true in last
Sundays fire. Falling walls spread the
flames to the Beatty Brothers buildings.
Larger water mains are required. Bet
ter pressure is badly needed. On the
Highlands, north and south, a plug
stream is frequently worthless, and en-
gines are required to give the streams
pressure enough to reach the fires. At
times in the center of this city the pres
sure Is also too weak to make the streams
worth anything. There is also frequent
ly delay in getting water from the plugs,
as in Sundays fire, when the firemen
had to walt several minutes before water
would issue from one of the plugs.
Larger Department. Needed.
A larger department is badly needed
About two months ago the fire department
was decreased, and as a result one of
the pieces of apparatus had to be cut
out. This is the aerial truck. There are
not men enough In the department now to
make 1t possible to use the, truck. There
is also a shortage of men at other sta
lions. At West End Third avenue and
Fifteenteenth street. there are never
more than four men on the hose wagon
and during meal hours not but three
Work as hard as they may, three men are
not enough to operate one hose wagon 1t
is simply impossible for them to work
effectually.
More fire stations are needed. Several
weeks ago there was more than one fire
in Richmond place, and the losses were
heavy. After the fire was discovered the
fire apparatus had to go more than a mile
to get to 1t. The nearest station was at
Five Points. With such a long run 1t is
impossible for flremen to save the building
in which the fire originated, and they do
we'll to save the adjoining building. The
same is true of the fires at Avenue H
end Thirtieth streets. TIE department had
to make run from Five Points and