The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-02-08
COFFIN FIRE WAS LARGEST.
Loss of 100000 in This Confla-
grafton Makes up Biggest Por-
lion of Property Damaged by
Fire During Past Year Says
Dawson

Dawson
In his annual report to the city
council last night Fire Chief Dawson
pointed out that the department DUR
ing the past year had responded to
"a calls and that damage to property
during the year was $125,7S0. His
report follows:
North Yakima. Wash, Feb. 1. 1911.
To the Hon. Mayor and City Council
of the City of North Yakima,
Wash.
Gentlemen-I beg to submit my
annual report of the work done dur
ing the year 1910, by the Fire de-
partment of your city, together with
the conditions and value OF fire ap-
paratus owned by the city December
81, 1910.
The department has responded to
"a calls within the city. This, as
against 81 calls for the year 1909.
The loss on buildings was 1925, $4,000
The loss on contents was $99,275.00
Total ................ $125, $50. 90
The Coffin Bros. Grocery House was
our greatest loss, which amounted to
800, 100000.
Gentlemen: In submitting my an
nual report, 1 wish to call your at
tention to several matters, which in
my opinion are of vital Importance
to the city, so far as it's fire protec-
ton services are concerned.
The department has in service at
the present / Combination Hose and
Chemical drawn by horses; l 5th
size Clapp & Jones Engine, in re-
serve; $500 TT. of 1st class 21a inch
fire hose.
We have contracted for one Auto
Hose and pumping engine, which will
soon be delivered we also have under
construction, in our department. an
Auto Chemical Engine, all of which
will greatly increase the efficiency of
our department.
Having in mind the unprecedented
growth of this city at this time, and
particularly the fact that a much finer
class of buildings, than heretofore in
it's history are being erected, which
will contain, property Of a much
greater value than their predecessors
were called upon to house, L desire
to make a recommendation or two,
WIFI TeSdTuS 10 the needs Oh the Qe-
partment.
LIST. 1 heartily indorse the mayors
recommendation for a rs 1T. Aerial
Ladder Truck, the same to be motor
driven, or self-propelled. There are
reasons for this, which cannot fail to
appeal to you. AS matters are now,
with the present ladder equipment, we
cannot reach above the average Sec
ond story. This simply means that
we are out of date in regard to lad
ders.
The property within the field of op
Grafton of the department and which
is of more than two stories in height,
Is Of more value than that of two
stories or less. We already have build
ings of six stories for business pur-
poses and school houses, the top
floors of which are beyond our reach.
More of these buildings are to be con-
structed. If our protective services are
to be adequate, we must be placed II
position, as the department, to meet
any possible conditions, and among
these may be the necessity of entering
buildings, or removing people or prop
erty from above the second floor. The
above mentioned ladder truck will
meet our needs for the present, and
add greatly to our efficiency.
2nd. | recommend the appointment
of a city electrician. This official in my
opinion, should work in conjunction
with the fire department. and become
responsible for the fire alarm system,
which is a rapidly growing feature Of
the service, and in need of frequent
work by an expert. Such an official
should be placed on salary, but the
city should charge a fee for all in
spections rendered to private enter
prises.
3rd. l recommend for the good OF
the service that stand-pipes be placed
for the use of the city sprinkling carts.
AS it is now the sprinklers take wa
ter from the fire hydrants, which IS
very unsatisfactory, and a great ex-
pense to the city. The annual ex-
pense for the upkeep Of these hy-
drants will more than offset the ex-
pense for installing the stand-pipes.
BY using the stand-pipes sprinkling
carts can be filled In one half the
time that it takes to fill from hy-
drants
The changing conditions, gentle,
men, which call for the above Sug-
gestions from me, also make impera-
tive the duty of calling to your at
tention the pressing necessity of rush.
ing to completion the accepted plans
of the new fire station, and gentlemen,
for reasons which are very important
to the efficiency of the department I
recommend that this building be built
for fire department use only.
Firemen are on duty "a hours a
day, in other words. cit is home" and
it is almost impossible to have proper)
discipline amongst the men, and have,
other departments quartered in the
same building This building, as plan
ned, will have a gymnasium room; its
use will be more in the way of a
training room than anything else.
Taking different days, firemen will
go through a course of training, and
make themselves physically perfect
nsa, as near as may be. AS things
are now, men do not get enough ex-
ercise, for the reason that hard fires
come too seldom. AS a result of that,
when hard fires do come, the men
have to make physical effort to stand
the strain, and fight of two or three