Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-02-01
ABOUT SMOKE
PROTECTORS

Since the fire at the Stove Works on
the Sth inst, when the dense smoke
was factor that handicapped firemen
and caused additional loss the subject
of smoke protectors" have been ex-
tensively discussed by the firemen and
others. Unfortunately, however, there
was in Danville a lack of information
on the subject of "smoke protectors
as relates to their general efficacy in
fighting fires, their construction. meth
cd Of using them, cost, &c.
A letter has been received from Otto
J. Welp, a leading fireman of Phila-
delphia, who is well known in Dan
vile, which throws great deal of
light on the subject of smoke protect
ors and presents other interesting facts
relating to fire fighting. Mr. Welp
says:
Il feel confident that the addition
of smoke protector would be ben
eft to the Danville Fire Department
! and that the results obtained would
fully repay the Borough in the long
run. l have in mind good and mex
| pensive one that is quite extensively
used throughout the country and if de-
| sirable | will make further inquiries
J and give you the benefit of the infor-
nation.
THE subject of smoke protectors
| opens up wide field for discussion.
| Firemen agree that a smoke protector
| is an excellent thing if the wearer
knows how to use it. There is one
danger connected with its use and
that is that a man, provided he is Il
true fireman, is apt to go farther than
he should and become lost in the burn
| ing building.
THE situation in Danville is differ
ent, however There large buildings
are few and the average man in the
fire department is well acquainted
with the interior construction. Here
in Philadelphia each fire company is
provided with smoke protector and
the truck companies carry very elab-
crate and expensive affair imported
from Germany and only used on the
rarest occasions. Our men are trained
to fight fire and endure smoke So that
you see the comparison between your
department and ours is hardly fair
one. l recall a fire in a stairway on
the seventh floor of twelve story
| building where | thought it was all up
on account of the dense smoke yet by
working i'll relays we got the fire out.
| Pluck and grim determination as we'll
as the spirit of rivalry between the
differept companies counts for great
deal in the Philadelphia Fire Depart
ment Smoke and flame are hard to
resist but our men stand the severe
| punishment for the mere satisfaction
| of saying: 1t is our fire. y
| am aware, however, that there is a
! big difference between fighting fire for
! love and for $l100 per year. | have
seen some very creditable work per
formed by volunteers and you have
among you in Danville men who are
| vastly superior both as firemen and
men TO some amongst us. We have
men who could not get into your COM
panies we have other men who try,
| who have the courage and the heart
but are not physically constituted to
stand the punishment. Then we have
men who are fit only for drivers or
engineers, but, by the way, good
driver or engineer is as essential to an
engine company as good hose man.
| | should think smoke protectors would
be an excellent thing in Danville and
would enable your firemen to go fur
ther and to remain longer in burning
building and that as rule results
would be much better. It, however,
appears to me that course of instruc
tion would be necessary before your
| firemen would be able to use the smoke
protectors.
Yours truly,
OTTO J. WELP.