Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-02
REVISED FIRE MANUAL
Strict Rules and Regulations
for the Department.
GO INTO EFFECT AUGUST %
Copies Now in the Hands of All
Employees for Study.
REQUIRE KINDNESS TO HORSES
Use Of the Lash Forbidden in
Teaching Animals Their Duties.
Rules Of Discipline.
GO INTO EFFECT AUGUST %
REQUIRE KINDNESS TO HORSES

| Only by kindness are fire horses to be
| trained to rush from their stalls to the
| pole of the fire engine to be harnessed.
according to a provision of the new man.
ual of rules and regulations Of the fire
department.
| This is provided in one of the strictest
rules of the new set of regulations. 1t
says:
"Omcers, drivers and all other members
OF companies shall, as soon as possible.
| from personal observation or otherwise,
| learn the disposition, habits and peculiari-
ties of their horses, treat them kindly.
humor them when necessary and teach
! them by kindness mot the LASH to go
! promptly to the pole when the gong
| sounds and submit to be harnessed with
the least possible delay
The new manual has been In course of
preparation by officers OF the fire de-
partment for some time and was recent
ly approved by the Commissioners. upon
the recommendation of Commissioner
Mcfarland. who is in charge of the fire
department 1t will be put into effect
throughout the department August %.
the men now being engaged in familiariZ-
ing themselves with it's provisions.
The new manual makes special provi-
sion for the inspection of the fire houses
by citizens and other visitors. One of
the rules provides:
The various quarters Of the depart
ment shall be open for visitors between
| the hours of 8 am. and Z pm. and dur
ing such hours citizens and visitors de-
string to examine any quarters shall be
| afforded every facility to do so. Lettering
! in or about any quarters by persons not
connected with the department shall not
| be permitted.
Further rules bearing on the same mat
| ter provide:
NO person shall be allowed in the vari-
Gus houses of the department after Z
| o'clock PM, except officials Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, members Of the depart
ment and duly authorised members Of the
press.
Persons not members of the depart
ment shall not be permitted to ride on
! any piece of apparatus going to or return
ing from fires or alarms of fire."
Chief Engineers Duties.
Article Of the regulations sets out
in detail the duty of the chief engineer,
who shall be responsible to the Com
missioners for the proper management
Of the department.
THE chief engineer" one section
specifies, shall respond to all second.
third. fourth. fifth. sixth and seventh
scene Of the fire. at once assume COM
mand. taking every precaution for the
protection Of life and property"
One Of the first duties prescribed for
the deputy and battalion chief en-
gineers. as outlined in articles and 3.
is to at once make every effort to
ascertain whether any person or per-
sons are in the burning building, and
upon receipt of information that any
such person or persons are in danger
must take all possible steps looking
toward their rescue" The battalion
chiefs and the deputy chief have the
responsibility for keeping the required
number of men in each company to per-
form proper and efficient fire service"
1t Is also provided that the deputy
chief and the battalion chiefs shall ia
miliarize themselves with all buildings
hydrants, streets and roadways, that
in their respective districts at least
once a week, inspect all the apparatus.
hose and men. take the necessary action
to remedy any defects and report on
conditions to the chief engineer.
What is regarded as one Of the wise
provisions of the new regulation Is
that when engines are passing thea
tors, schools and other places of public
assembly where panics are likely to be
dangerous the bells of the fire wagons
or engines shall not be sounded.
Captains shall see that in passing
theaters and public schools, while per-
formances are being given in theaters
and while schools are in session." says
the rule. that the bells on the vehicles
and apparatus are not rung unless the
same is absolutely necessary to avoid
accident"
Rules Of Discipline.