Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-14
WILL USE AUTO
TO FIGHT FIRES
HOLLYWOOD ACQUIRES NEW
APPARATUS
UP.To-DATE MACHINERY IS FROM
Los ANGELES COMPANY
Immense Saving In Weight lie Effected,
and Far speedIer Response to
q, Calls Is Rendered .
Possible


The Auto Vehicle company of this
city has delivered to the city of Holly
wood piece of automobile fire fighting
apparatus that places Hollywood in
line with the most progressive of Amer
lean cities
The practicability of the automobile
in combination with chemical extin-
guishers and with water pumps is now
generally conceded. 1t is probably only
a question of a few years until the gilt
tering horse-drawn fire. engine OF today
will be as scarce as horse-drawn
street car.
The Hollywood outfit represents the
most advanced type of automobile
chemical fire fighting apparatus.
The body Is mounted upon a special
Tourist chassis: the motor four-cyl-
inder fifty-horse power. with double ig
milton; selective type. change speed
gears.
The fire fighting equipment consists
of:
A 40-gallon chemical tank of heavy
copper. placed crosswise on car under
the drivers seat
One hundred feet of N-inch Apply
chemical hose. coupled to automatic
reel with A-inch Larkin nozzle.
Two 3-gallon regulation fire extin-.
guishers.
Two and one-half inch hydrant con-
nection for 2h-inch fire hose.
Four 9-foot ladders specially fitted to
connect into one 36-foot ladder.
A full complement of lanterns. crow
bars, pick-axes. plaster hooks, etc.
The main body of the car Is of steel,
designed to carry 800 fet of 2h-inch fire
hose
All the apparatus is ingeniously nest
1lI ..,&k 4. 10 fn OF
enings, and at the same time Is availa-
BILE for instantaneous use.
The lighting system is unique, con-
sisting of large gas headlights and
central gas searchlight; the latter so
arranged that Ii can be turned back,
illuminating the entire outfit when the
car is at a standstill. The lamps are
all electrically ignited from the operat-
or's seat.
The weight of the outfit. with tanks
filled and including 800 feet of 21a-fnch
hose, driver and five men is 5000 pounds.
The lightest steam fire engine in this
city weighs, with driver, 1850 pounds.
and some of the heavy types now IN
use weigh more than 10000 pounds.
It's speed on the level Is forty-fve to
nifty miles per hour, and 1t is geared to
negotiate almost any grade.
The car will be housed in Hollywood
in a specially designed building wherein
the car rests upon an inclined plane
facing the door. Upon the receipt of an
alarm the driver from his seat releases
n chock-block and opens the throttle,
and the car. by descending the incline,
starts the motor.
This apparatus will be on exhibition
in the salesrooms of the Auto Vehicle
company Monday afternoon and even
ing, June 10. having been sent 10 the
makers for that purpose.
Another piece of firefighting appara-
tus. but of another type, is now seen
almost every day on the streets. lt is
the Rambler car that was equipped Tor
the use of the Los Angeles Gas ana
Electric company.
The city ordinances require that the
lighting and power companies must
send a man to all fires. and the car is
designed to- carry their men and the
equipment, that they are likely to need.
The car was especially designed Tor
the company by the Rambler factory
and is equipped with a thirty horse-
power motor.
The front Is like the ordinary pas
senger automobile with seat for chauf-
feur on the right and passenger on the
left. But In place of tonneau the
rest ofAthe car comprises large oblong
body, inclosed like box in which Is
arranged for immediate use the emer-
gency equipment. consisting of picks,
shoyeIs, hammers, monkey wrenches,
chisels. rubber gloves, electric search
lights, handsaws, screwdrivers, caulk-
ing irons, safety helmets, a kit of med
icines and bandages for first aid to the
injured, and, in fact, every tool and
appliance that could possibly be needed
to meet any emergency that might
arise. The car is also equipped with
a small chemical fire extinguisher and
a cylinder for use in reviving persons
overcome by gas or smoke.
The emergency crew is instructed to
respond to fire calls, a fire alarm bell
being in service at the crews station.
The quick arrival at fires of trained
gas and electric men will be OF great
assistance to the fire department of the
city In looking after live wires and gas
pipes in burning buildings.
F. An emergency call was yesterday
phoned by one of the company's officials
from Figueroa and Washington streets,
a distance of two miles. and the crew
made the run from the Hill street
office in four minutes.
The car will also be used to respond
to all emergency calls from customers,
such as those for leaks In mains or
service pipes or crossed wires ~
The mayor, fire chief and other city
officials have been invited to look over
the car and apparatus Monday. at
which time the machine will be open