The daily tribune., 1908-05-15
IMPROVE
FIGHTING
SERVICE

d. -. Blunt, secretary OF the FLOR
ence Volunteer Fire depal tment. is
rather alarmed over the present con.
dition Of the fire-fg ghting facilities
possessed by Florence at the present
time and is agitating for an improve
ment of the service. According to
his record book there are eighteen
members of the volunteer ompesyy
and six of these are non residents,
while about ten per cent of the re-
mainder attend what meetings are
called. But the company has been
so inactive during the last two or
three years, that not meeting has
been held in that time.
Secretary Blunt believes that
unless the system is greatly improv-
ed at once, that Florence will be
fire swept from one end to the other
If fire breaks out which cannot be
combated successfully. So long as
the small fires are handled successful
ly there is little danger Of sp1sad
of flames, but II on one of the charac-
teristio windy days we have bean
having in the last six or seven
months, frame house breaks out
ablaze and the wind carries fire brands
to all parts Of town and starts a score
or more of fires at the same time, then
any fight that might be made against
the fires with the present equiment
will result in naught and the entire
town will go, entailing property loss
of 81. 600, 600 or 81. 900. 900.
This is a condition of affairs that
Florence can not afford to tolerate
any longer. The city has been very
fortunate, indeed, that it has not had
any serious fires in the past, but be-
cause we have had such luck gives
us no excuse for taking further
chances. One man is left on duty
at the city hall to handle hose and
cart which is far too heavy for
dozen men to handle, and then before
the cart Is taken to Are the fireman
must first wait for the arrival of an
express wagon. all of which may be
two or three miles away from the city
hall. By the time the cart reaches
the blaze, the burning building is
doomed to complete destruction by
the flames.
| What Florence needs worse than
any other one thing at this time is
adequate fire pro lection and the cost
should not be considered, for one or
two ordinary fires will destroy as
much property As a first class appara-
tus will cost. A couple Of good
horses. hose wagon which also carries
the chemical apparatus is what is
necessary. The maintenance will be
small as compared with the chances
the city is taking every day. The
business men of Florence should
show extreme interest in this mat
ter and should demand that a bet
ter equipment be purchased with.
out delay.
Under the present system OF fight
ing fires. house full of furniture
or business house full of merchan-
disc, II not ruined by the fire, will be
ruined by the water that is forced
upon it by ine1pe rienced and incom-
petent fremen. Where the hose
wagon carries the chemical barrel,
the chemicals are always used first
| or until II is seen that the Are is
getting beyond control OF that method
Of fighting. Then the water is used
and Of course the stocks Of goods are
damaged. But the business man has
the satisfaction Of knowing that IL
II the chemical way OF fighting the
flames is sufficient. Ii is stock will not
be ruined When flre occurs dur.
ing the present day n window is brok.
on out. the hose pushed through. the
water turned on. and the contents cf
the burning building ruined bv
water. The city Hremen who at.
tempts to use water before trying the
chemicals Ia discharged on the spot,
tho same M he would be for any other