Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-02
FIRE DEP ARTMENT
YEARS LOSSES AMOUNTED TO
OVER $24o,ooo.

that MS emclent corps OF flre-hghterS per-
formed good service for the people of the
city during the pastvyear. There were but
Few fires Of any magnitude. although many
OF the smaller confagnations threatened to
get beyond the control'ef the f1remen and
cause the wholesale destruction Of prop
erty Several important changes and ad-
ditions to the force have made the de-
partment more efficient than heretofore,
and Chief Belt Is e1deavoring to get fur
Their increases. ps
April 70 a new truck company was placed
in service. This truck company is situated
on sth street between d and E streets
southeast, and is known as Truck e. By
the addition OF this company a long step
forward in fire protection was taken for
Southeast Washington Heretofore Tins
section of the city was covered by Truck
Company A. and the installation of the new
company means that many Hong runs are
taken from the former, and that truck
company gets to fires In Southeast Wash
ington much sooner than formerly.
On October "a, 1904 Chemical Engine
Company No. /, situated on D street near
18th northwest. was converted into an en-
CINE company This was done at a very
slight cost to the District. but few minor
repairs having been made to the house.
one OF the engines on reserve was placed
IN regular commission at this house, ana
the business section OF the city was thus
cal engine that had been In service at this
house was transferred to Congress Heights,
adding materially to the strength Of thar
company. No. Chemical
The new serial truck provided for Con-
gress Heights was placed in commission
November 16. and this supplied a need that
was long felt at, Congress Heights. The
Government Hospital for the Insane and
the many new structures recently erected
at Congress Heights have now q truck
company at but very short distance, and
the advantage OF this piece of apparatus
will be appreciated In case of fire in that
vicinity.
Southwest Washington was also taken
care of by an engine company. No. Is being
installed at the corner Of 10th and g
This section of the city had several large
fires In recent years, and the need OF
company there was long apparent. This
company covers one Of the most danger
Gus districts of the city the shipping In
terests along the river front It's value
has already been proven. At a fire of re-
cent date the close proximity OF this COM
pany allowed 1t to reach the scene in very
short order and the fire was checked before
1t reached the adjoining property. The fire
occurred at night time and a high wind
was blowing. Another step that was taken
by Chief Belt of much value was the plac-
ing in service at truck F house. Whitney
avenue between 18th and 1Ath streets north
west, one of the combination hose wagons.
This territory covered by truck f and en-
Mount Pleasant, and when the two COM
panies mentioned are out on an alarm this
territory Is left uncovered until the arrival
Of companies from further down town.
There are long and steep grades to climb
before these companies can arrive and the
combination wagon has been placed in serv-
Ice to cover this territory while the COM
panies mentioned are out, and to endeavor
to hold in check. any fire occurring there
until the arrival Of other companies.
Another engine company has been ar
ranged for and that is to supersede the
chemical company now in service at Brook
land. Like chemical No. 1, It will be
changed into an engine company at no
great cost. The engine has already been
provided and the house Is now undergoing
the necessary repairs for the installation Of
the company.
Contracts have been given for the CEN
struction of a modern fire boat and In short
be protected by thia modern fre-fighting
On February Z. iao4e washington was
called on for assistance BY the city Of Ba!ti-
there. Chief Engineer William I. Belt re-
sponded with Engine Companies and 9.
The trip was made In reeord-breaking time
and later this section OF the fire department
was reinforced by q. q and 8 companies
The department rendered Invaluable serv-
Ices and the city Of Baltimore sent letters
of thanks. The men suffered from the heat.
posts until the IRE ives under control.
There were 100 men,, Is engines. hose wag-
ons and rs horses sent TO this fire.
Chief Belt inspected the several cisterns
certained just what service they could do
in case of emergency, The theaters, apart
ment houses, hotels and other structures
were inspected regularly and defects were
ordered remedied. Congress gave the de-
partment an increase OF twenty-one men.
The fire department responded to total
OF 1858 alarms during the twelve months.
Einety-two Of them being false. The losses
during the year aggregated s240.905.5O. and
the property that was damaged was In
sured to the amount of 81. b57 OBS. Some
OF the property OF course, was not insured.
and the owners had to stand the losses.
Several persons were burned to death or
euffocated. as shown in another column.
The most serious loss occasioned by fire
was the coniagration OF Downey's livery
stable ON l. street. This flre caused about
10000 damage on tina 9th Of October. Early
In the morning on November 80 q serious
fire occurred at the nltratton plant and
caused about $50, 600. damage. Fire Mar
shall Bieber estimated tho damage 20 the
home OF the Metropolitan Club at $8b QUO.
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