Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-03-15
FIRE DANGER
VERY GREAT
Fire Underwriters Find Local
Protection Poor
AN EXHAUSTIVE REPORT
Building Ordinances, Alarm
System, Fire Department
All Inadequate and Haz-
ard of Conflagration Sc
we're, Says Committee

nat AiAN me fApNtNAA'Al VI Il httlilA
is very inadequate. that the loss per
fire is unreasonably high, that the
alarm system is unreliable and mad
equate. that the laws governing build
ing and the storage of inflammables
are inadequate. and that the confla-
grafton hazard is severe. are among
the conclusions reached by the COM
mittee from the National Board of
Fire Underwriters which recently
made an inspection of the city.
The report was received yesterday
At the office of the city recorder 1t
is printed and covers twenty pages,
SXll inches in size Every phase of
the situation is dealt with at great
length. The conclusions are summed
up as follows:
City in General.
Records of fires which occurred be-
fore July, 1910, could not be obtained.
but the gross fire loss for the past
six months amounted to s32,654 for
"A actual fires. or a loss per fire of
$3.50, a high figure. Based upon
these figures and a population OF
II, SOC. the average number of fires
a year per 1000 population would be
IS, and the annual loss per capita
$500. a hotel fire in June last en-
tailed a loss OF $I25,OOO.
Water Supply.
Complete detail plans and records
of the works, systematically filed and
properly protected against destruction.
would be valuable to the department
for present and future use. Present
indications are that the ground water
source is adequate for the needs of
the city, but no tests have been made
TO determine the ability of the wells
to deliver sufficient supply; in order
that proper fire protection may be
available at time of maximum dOmes-
tic consumption, it is necessary that
the present wells be able to deliver at
least 10000. 900 gallons per day. or ad-
ditional wells or storage provided TO
accomplish this Although there fs
adequate pump and boiler capacity
for ordinary demands, there is not
sufficient reserve for continuous max
imum service at such time as either
of the larger pumps or one of the
boilers is being overhauled or repaired.
The oil-burning installation does not
conform TO the requirements OF the
national board, and serious Interrupt
ton or leSsening of supply may be
caused by the lack of duplication OF
steam piping and by the poor arrange
ment OF discharge mains. The pump
ing equipment is in good condition.;
the construction of the station and the
serious exposures form extremely haZ-
ardous conditions and protection is
not sufficient. As the city's fire pro
teton is entirely dependent upon the
operation of the station, such precau-
tons should be taken as are necessary
to render the service secure.
The average rate is moderate for
the locality. but with the extension
Of the sewer system. and should the
irrigation bitches be abandoned. a
much higher rate will result, decreas-
ing the amount available for fire pro-
lection unless provided for in the de-
sign of the distribution system.
The domestic pressure carried Is not
adequate for automatic sprinkler sup
ply above the second story Of build
ings. The fire pressure is sufficient
for effective. direct hydrant streams
through short hose lines. but cannot
he maintained under heavy draft even
at times of moderate consumption.
Reasonable protection for the prin-
cipal maximum district requires
fire flow i'm excess of the maximum
domestic consumption Of at least 4,OOO
gallons per minute. The total guam
titv includes an allowance for loss
from broken services incidental TO
large fires: the distribution system
should be capable of delivering this
about any block or group of
buildings Of special hazard, with by
drants so located as to deliver two
thirds the quantity upon any large
fire through hose lines. none exceed
ing 500 feet in length.
The minor mercantile and warehouse
districts require fire flow Of from
? 500 to .. 800 gallons per minute, and
the residential districts from 1,5OO to
> 500 gallons per minute. CALCULATIONS
I.ascd on the results obtained at the
fire flow tests indicate that sufficient
quantities are available for proper
protection of the more important sec
lions. but at pressures requiring the
use of fire engines. For direct ny
1rant streams, these quantities should
be available at hydrant pressure OF
- pounds in mercantile districts and
80 mounds in residential districts.
The general arrangement OF the
mains forms a good basis upon which
, satisfactory system can be devei-
pped; for the use of direct hydrant
streams. necessary unless the fire de-
,artment is strengthened by adding
several fire engines, friction loss must
,e reduced 20 a minimum, both in IN"
main arteries and in the minor dis
ributers. The present main from
he pumping station can furnish, with
nut undue friction loss, only slight /
margin over the maximum consump-
ion. To properly supply hydrants' q
nch and smaller mains are of pract-
ally no value and should he replaced