New-York tribune., 1910-07-31
MANY ASK FOR FIRE KEYS
o'Keeffe's Honorary Firemen
Can Save Life and Property.

Deputy Fire Commissioner Arthur J.
OKeeffe has struck upon a plan which
Brooklynites have taken up enthusiast
caliy. II is to enable all responsible per
sons 10 become what might be termed
honorary frerner- Mr.. O'keeffe has found
that most of the big fires have resulted
from delays in sending in alarms. The
difference Of q few moments in the ar
rival of the engines often means much,
not only in property, but also in lives.
One Of the chief causes of delay in the
sending in of alarms has been the diff
Guilty in finding policemen or other per
sons possessing keys 20 the alarm boxes.
His plan tends 10 make the turning in of
an alarm easier. For several days past he
has been distributing TO responsible per
sons IL all parts OF Brooklyn and Queens
Keys that are made TO open any of the
alarm boxes. Each key is numbered and
= record is made OF the name and ad-
dress OF Its custodian. The Deputy Com
missioner started out with the expectation
OF distributing maybe ten thousand keys.
The ciuzens are so thoroughly in sympathy
with his plan that they may ask for even
more out me more the merrier. Every
key holder is a sort of unpaid watcher of
the Fire Department. and there cannot be
too many such persons on The alert, Mr..
okeefre says
Within two days after the announcement
vas made Of the Deputy Commissioner
sy,laCs more than two hundred applications
demands have been coming in constantly.
All letter carriers are to be furnished with
them. and the milk concerns have asked
10 have their men supplied. The railroad
companies are preparing lists OF their con-
ductors and motorrnen who will carry
them. Deputy Street Cleaning Commission
er Scott has ordered prepared a list of his
foren1en and assistant foremen who will
1oin the volunteer force. Many oe the ap-
plicauons have come from night workers.
such as compositors on the various news
papers. The men who work until early
morning have many chances TO report fires
at a time when the task is most difficult.
Regarding his plan. Mr.. 0keeffe said
Yesterday:
The trouble at present is never through
lack Of pTomptness on the part OF the
firemen IN res ending to alarms. In any
engine house the men are ready. and get
away in a few seconds after the alarm is
received. The trouble is that the fire some
times gets such & good start before an
alarm Is turned IN that, when the depart
rlent responds, all that be done in
many cases, is to save adjoining buildings
Few citizens know the location of the
ire boxes nearest their home. They could
not get INTO them II they did, because thew
have no keys Precious minutes go by be
fore an alarm is turned IN. I would like
70 have every watchman. postman. every
sJrectrar ernploye and every ernpioye OF
tic Street Cleaning Department receive a
key, ann also every responsible citizen,
particularly the ones whose business keer,s
them OUT al night.
Among those applications ALREADY re-
ceivec for Keys, have been pleased 10 see
srA%iIt IfOiD newspaper GiIDiONES- The
citizens IN general are cooperating with
.he department, and this is as II should he
The beys arc distributed 20 the citizens
through the station houses nearest their
homes. and the frenlen VINO distribute
hem explain their use. When box IS
o',en.c with one of these KEYS il cannot
re Withdrawn. Even Il broken the part
a II bearing The rnrnber remains IN the
Inck The number Shows WHO is resDor-
sfb,e for tiie alarm. Under sccif circurn-
stGnces TO one w3u turn in an alarm with
out scod Cause