Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-06
HAS MOTOR FIRE Co.
First in District Officially Ac-
copied Today.
APPARATUS IN. PETWORTH
No. "a Engine House to Protect
Outlying Suburbs.
CHEF WAGNER ). DELIGHTED
Motor-Driven Machines Designed by
Local Omcials-Chief Wagner
Pleased at Results Of Tests.
APPARATUS IN. PETWORTH
CHEF WAGNER DELIGHTED

The first fully equipped motor fire house
in the history Of the District fire de-
partment was put into commission this
morning at 10 O'Clock. when Chief Wag-
ner officially turned over to engine COM
pany No. "a, located at Georgia avenue
and Rock Creek Church road, Petworth
two motor-driven pieces Of fire apparatus
for the protection Of property in the sub
urban sections.
Recently the department received an
automobile piston pumping engine. which
was placed In service at the Petworth en-
CINE house This was augmented few
days ago by a combination chemical and
hose. which after a severe test was &C
cepted by the fire department officials.
Chief Wagner and Sup erintendent Of Ma
chinery Robinson were present today, and
after thorough inspection Of both pieces
of apparatus and the quarters, turned
them over to Capt. Buscher.
The pumping engine has a capacity OF
700 gallons of water per minute. 1t Is Of
the six-cylinder type and is equipped with
electric lights throughout. with patent
system of starting. The big machine is
chain driven. with two sets of brakes. in
ternal and external. Two lines of hose
can be attached to the front of the ma
chine.
The machine proceeds to a fire under its
own power. The gears are then thrown
into neutral and another lever on the
front end is then shifted. which imme-
diately engages the pupm and starts to
pump the water. 1t has a speed of from
thirty-five to forty miles an hour and
wonderful hill-climbing ability.
Carries Ten Men.
The front dash is equipped with speedo-
meter. clock. large fire bell. electric lights
switch box and lever for starting the
motor after it has been turned over by
the self-starter. The front seat carries
two men, while about eight men can be
accommodated on the rear seats and step.
The chemical and house wagon carries
two f1fty-gallon tanks of chemical, with
100 feet of two and a half inch hose.
The apparatus can speed over the roads
at the rate Of forty miles an hour and
sixty il pushed. The motor is forty
horsepower. The equipment includes two
three-gallon extinguishers which are
located on the sides Of the machine, as
well as axes. life lines, door openers and
other necessary apparatus used by the
fire-fghters on reaching fire.
A searchiight Is located just over the
front dash. while back of the driver IL a
large fire bell The machine Is also pro-
vided with siren and electric lights
throughout. The self-starter is also Of
u
furnished by a generator on the drive
shaft
|: The apparatus is also equipped with a
wagon tower pipe on the right side which
can easily be operated by one man at any
1ngle or degree of elevation.
Two lines of hose can be merged into
one, water being obtained from two
steamers, throwing a strong twO-inch
stream. On the sides OF the machine are
two tanks about three feet long. with
maximum pressure Of 1 200 pounds for
supplying pressure for the chemical tanks
when In operation.
Chief Wagner 0ratified.
Seven men in addition to the driver
and captain OF the company can be
accommodated on the apparatus when
responding to an alarm. Left-hand
drive has been adopted. This machine
was designed and specifications drawn
by the local fire department officials.
and they are proud Of the new appara-
which is the standard color which has
been adopted by the department.
The driver of the pumping engine is
Adam Minnick. with c. d. McAuline as
relief. John c. Stein has been designated
by Chief Wagner to pilot the chemical
and hose machine, with John A. Sartain
and George Comley as relief drivers.
Capt. j. II. Buscher is in command OF
the new motor company, ofhcially desig-
mated as No. "a
the appearance of the men and apparatus
this morning and is enthusiastic over the
proposition of substituting mOtor-driven
machines for the horse-driven apparatus.
Each year he is procuring appropriations
for making the changes. and says the day
IS not far on when the entire department
will be equipped with motor-driven We
hicles.