Evening star., 1909-03-01
DETAIL AT PENSION OFFICE
Thirty Men to Be on Duty Night and
Day Until March 10.
Recommendations Made to Prevent
Conditions Which Would Be
Source Of Danger.

pension ONCE building during ltS conNel-
sion to inaugural purposes, especially
while the ball is held. have been made by
Frank J. Wagner. chief of the fire de-
partment The department will be also in
readiness to respond to a fire call for any
reviewing stand,
Realizing the necessity for big force
of tiremen for the inaugural celebration.
Chief Wagner gave notice to the men,
bers of his department some days ago
that no leaves of absence would be grant
ed this week. The entire department will
therefore be on duty
In letter to Maj. Sylvester, chairman
of the committee on public order. Chief
Wagner gives an idea of just what his
department will do this week. He has
made arrangements so that it will not be
necessary for the apparatus of his ,.e-
partment to cross Pennsylvania avenue
between the Capitol and 18th street in
case of fire inauguration day.
Thirty Men at Pension Office.
He has assigned a detail of thirty fire.
men for duty at the pension building,
night and day. from February p to
March 10. inclusive. These men will be
divided among the several floors of the
building and will be prepared at all times
arise.
A system of signal whistles has been
arranged. In event Of a fire or disturb
ance at any point in the building they
Will be summoned promptly and without
unnecessary noise or confusion.
The pension building is equipped with
standprpe systems. A sufficient amount
of fire hose has been placed on each floor
to reach any point in the bui ding.
The following fire appliances have also
Deen placed at convenient n0intS. Thirty
six siX-gallon fire extingu.sners, seven
fifteen-galion fire extinguisners, twenty
four johnson pumps, twenty-four three
gallon water buckets. twenty mine ceiling
hooks and nineteen pickaxeS.
A line of fire hose will be run from the
fire hydrant at 4th and f streets north
west to the temporary frame building
which will be used as a kitchen.
The detail will be in charge of Capts
T. OConnor and H. c. Egloff, under the
immediate supervision of Chief Wagner
and Battalion Chief James Keliher.
Protection for Stands.
Chief Wagner will be unable to furnish
firemen for buildings where troops are to
be quartered. With reference to the re-
viewing stands the chief of the fire de-
partment says:
i nave arranged to detail four uniform
ed firemen, with necessary fire extinguish-
ers, on the stand in front of the United
States Capitol; two on the Presidents $
stand in front Of the Executive Mansion,
and one on the stand at Pennsylvania
| avenue and Madison place northwest,
which will be occupied by the Department
OF Justice. The fire eXtinguishers which
| these men will carry with them will be
sufficien- to extinguish incipient fires In
my opinion, the detail will be ample to
| insure the safety Of the occupants Of
such stands.
II recommend that the members of the
police department and the members Of
the committee on public order be instruct
ed TO do all that Is within their power to
prevent undue accumulations Of paper or
other inf1ammable material under review
Ing stands. The members of the fire de-
partment have already been SO instructed.
Il recommend further, that a rule be
adopted and most strictly adhered tc pro-
hfbftlnE the establishment under any re-
viewing stand of any heating apparatus
whatsoever. i have already been ap-
proa ched with requests from persons de-
string to install lunch counters under
such stands and who wish to obtain per-
mission to use oil or other stoves for the
purpose of heating coffee.
''These requests have been denied The
danger involved in allowing heating ap-
paratus of any kind under such stands is
only too apparent.
L request tflat dt THIS meeting action
be taken in this matter so that the pro-
prietors of reviewing stands will be
promptly notified that the use Of stoves or
other heating apparatus under such
stands will be strictly prohibited
1T is recommended. too, that the in
structions to the above effect be issued to
all those concerned with. the enforcement
Of the rules"
Theater Protection Adequate.
Chief Wagner says 1t will not be neces-
sary to take extra precautions at the the
aters and public halls, the laws governing
such places providing for such protection.
No danger from the fireworks is antici-
pated.
The chief has arranged a detail of six
ty-siX uniformed firemen for duty on both
sides of Pennsylvania avenue from the