Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-20
Fire Dangers and Needs.

Any doubt that might remain of the
urgent need of immediate provision for a
high pressure fire service for the District
should be removed by today's demonstra-
ton of the danger to which the business
portion of Washington is exposed through
the lack of such a system. At midnight
fire occurred on G street between 18th and
18th, calling for the sounding ofe extra
alarms Fortunately the engines respond
ing to the first alarm sufticed to queneh the
flames but for fully an hour seven ste I'M
ers the tower and three trucks Were held
in readiness for fight against a spreading
OF Tie
Within seven hours a much more threat
ening fire was discovered in the warehouses
and commission houses on c street and
Louisiana avenue, place where conditions
always invite a disastrous blaze. Fifteen
engines, the tower and three trucks We're
summoned and most of this apparatus was
held in action throughout the morning in
an effort to keep the fire within original
bounds.
Had a third large fire broken out during
the morning 1t is doubtful whether 1t could
have been handled. Indeed. had the G street
fire occurred Simultaneously with that in
the commission house district the depart
ment could not have COPIED with both of
them. One of them would probably have
broken beyond bounds and spread destruc-
ton over a wide area.
The fact is, the District fire department,
excellent it is in point of quality. is not
large enough to cover the area properly.
Nor can 1t be made large enough under the
present. policy of equipping steamers save
at an enormous expense. The fire-protec-
ton demands affect both the business por-
ton of the city and the suburban area of
the District. Yesterdays fire at the re-
form school clearly demonstrated the fact
that there is a wide eXpanse of important
te~ '-0rv north o. q city in which the per-
centage OF fire protection is dangerously
With the high pressure service Installed
it will be possible to establish in the urban
residential and outlying portions of the
District the steamers no longer needed for
the center of the city. Then for the first
time will the less congested sections be
given a proper degree of assurance against
destruction. For many years to come the
demands for additions to the service will
be small and easily met, while the business
district will have been securely protected.
With the high pressure service installed
the annual increases in the business dis
trict will consist simply of the organization
of small comp anies of men to manipulate
the hose. The cost of reel houses and dor
mitores for the firemen will be small rom-
pared with that for the equipment of tile
engine houses of today. One-feurth of the
money now needed for annual Increases TO
provide for the growth of business and pop
ulation will suffice to keep pace with the
needs of the growing capital a.nt
But most important Is the fact that with
the high pressure service the city will be
more securely guarded than it is today, for
1t will be possible to get water On fire
much more quickly. and to throw many
times much water. For instance, at the
c street fire today nineteen streams were
thrown by fifteen steamers and the tower,
whereas with the proposed system Of spe-
cial mains fully twice as many streams
could have been thrown, perhaps three
times, without single steamer. With the
excellent discipline of the service today
the wide streets and the naturally favor
able local conditions for fire fighting, it
will be almost impossible for a fire to gain
Roadway in business Washington with the
high pressure system available. That is
the ideal of fire protection, and it should
be granted to the national capital without
further delay.