The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-28
FIRE DEPARTMENT HIGHLY EFFICIENT Chief Bennett Submits Annual
 Report to Mayor 552 ALARMS DURING 1907 Value of Property at Risk Was $4,5s4,- 671.15-Numerou Shinele Roofs
 In Fire Limits Are a
 Great Menace.
552 ALARMS DURING 1907

Chief A. V. Bennett of the fire depart ment completed his annual report for 19U7 yesterday. The past year was the twenr ty-first of the existance of the fire de- partment as a paid organization, and the second under Chief Bennett. The report is considered a favorable one.
 During the year ending December 31, 1907, the value of property at risk was s4,5S4, ,6n15, while the insurance involved was s3257,09O The total insured and un- insured loss was s355, ,2SO.65. Expendi- lures during the year amounted to s144,- 04o.74, and the cost of maintenance of the fire department was $127,S05.39.
 The report calls attention to the fact that the most disastrous fire of the year occurred on June 2Se at 1925 a. m., when the Chalifoux building was partially de- stroyed and the adjoining Prowell Hard- were building, which was under course of construction, was entirely de- stroyed. The total loss entailed at this fire was s1S9, ,S32 .1s.
 Chief Bennett's report follows
 January 1, 1908. Hon. George B. Ward, Mayor:
 Dear Sir-I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual report of the fire department for the fiscal year ending De- cember 91, 19o7 this being the twenty-first year of it's existence as a paid organiza- ton and my second as chief.
 A brief summary of the more impor- tant features treated elsewhere in detail are as follows:
 Number of fires and alarms, 552.
 Value of property at risk. $4.5S4, 671 IS. Insurance involved, $3,257 090.
 Total insured and uninsured loss, 1885, 2s0. .65.
 Cost of maintenance, $127, ,S05 .39.
 Total expenditures, $144040.74.
 During the year the department re- sponded to 552 alarms and fires, this be- ing 76 more than the year 1906 and 51 more than any previous year.
 The most disastrous fire of the year occurred on June 2S, at 1925 a. m, in the Chalifoux building on the southwest cor ner of First avenue and Nineteenth street, resulting in the partial destruction of this building and the total destruction of the adjoining Prowell Hardware building, which was under course of construction, entailing total loss of s1S9,SS2 19
 During the year the department was called on to extinguish 136 fires caused Dy SpuTkS rom nueS anu cHlilHSyS ldiilhB on shingle roofs and 73 caused by care- 1essness in various ways.
 The fires from sparks are largely duo to our roofs being allowed to become badly decayed before they are renewed and constitute a fire hazard that l am afraid great many of our citizens do not appreciate. Should there be a strong wind blowing and a fire on a dry roof allowed to obtain any headway before T .P It,r, ,t t,o shingles would be carried several blocks and would set on fire other shngle roofs and your fire department would be con fronted with a condition that would call forth it's best efforts and still be unable to prevent an enormous fire loss. For this reason the shingle roof should be eliminated from the fire limits as fast as practicable.
 Buildings.
 During the past year only slight and urgently needed repairs have been made tc the several engine houses. The major ity of the amount set out in the expense account under the head of repairing build- ngs Is for work done during the year 1906 and paid for in 1907. The only work of consequence done during the year was on the building of Truck and Engine company No. ?, consisting of new roof for truck room and new window saSL for bed room.
 Hose.
 We have in service noT in the various companies 20100 feet of 21a-inch cotton rubber lined, hose, the majority of which is in good condition and over 1900 feet in reserve, of whic. 800 feet is in good con dtion. After testing $500 feet of old re- serve hose we found about 4Oo0 feet to be entirely worthless. After removing the af1 tho cnII ttraf The remaining 1900 feet was turned owe: to the street department for flushing sewers, etc.
 At the beginning of the year there were 46 horses in the department. During tha year three were bought, one was killed and another ineapacitated by a street car end two others were turned over to the street department. leaving i5 at present four of which are unfit for service.
 Fire Alarm System. Two additiona. fire alarm boxes were ..nstalled during the year, making a total of 63 street boxes. This system is being brought to and is being maintained in ! high state of efficiency The work is in charge of Superintendent G. w. Brown and Lineman J. W. Altfather.
 Blacksmith and Repair Shop.
 This department continues to be a very profitable one for the city. In addition to shoeing all of the horses of the depart ment as often as necessary, repairs that would involve considerable expense were the work done by others than ourselves This work is in charge of Ladderman H. C. Pearce and Assistant Chief W. P. Walton.
 Fire Hydrants.
 We have installed during the year l2 additional hydrants and replaced four f. inch with new 6-inch hydrants, making d total of 401 now in service. This depart ment is under the supervision of P. J. Thornton as hydrant inspector. who oils and flushes each hydrant in the city at least once a month and repairs same when necessary in adition to repairing all plumbing in the various fire stations, making daily reports to this office of his work
 Recommendations.
 owing to the present financial condition of the city l feel that 1t would be use- less to make recommendations that would involve any considerable expenditure of money. Notwithstanding the fact that all recommendations made last year were urgently needed, will confne myself
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