Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-08-07

appear advisable Tor a city !of tnls
size, and having such possibilities OF
serious fires; internal. dissention dis
rupted one company in the past and
at present tits doubtful if the services
of one of the engine companies can be
depended upon.
Besides tending to great efficiency
because of better training and drills,
giving better fire service because of
quicker response and the greater use
of chemical streams, and giving a
more dependable force, particularly
at night time, paid department
would be capable of undertaking fire
prevention operation; the need ap-
pears to be particularly urgent for
inspections for removal of rubbish
and care of infanmable materials
and for the proper up-keep of hy-
drants.
Financial conditions of the city are
reported as not being such as to war
rant the organization of a paid de-
partmerr, but start should be made
by putting at least one company on
a paid basis and gradually substitut-
ing paid men for volunteers in the
other companies.
Engine capacity is too small
for such fires as might occur, but
larger engines would not be justified
with the present small flow from hy-
drants.
The northern part of the city is
somewhat poorly protected with the
present location of companies, but
by the use of automobile apparatus
protection could be mahe adequate.
Minor equipment is deficient on the
truck, and no appliances are provid-
ed for fighting cellar fires or fires in
upper stories of buildings"
Structural Conditions.
A study of the building regulations
of the city follows and number OF
minor defects are noted. The build
ing code is found to be deficient in
that no restrictions are made as 10
area of buildings, protection to expos
ed window openings, skylights, di-
vision and party wall openings, or
openings in floors; no fire stops are
required in framing of wooden build
ings, and automatic protective de-
vices are not required with any class
of occupancy; the city is of sufficient
size to justify material amplifica-
tion of the present code, with rigid en-
forcsment and without clauses permit
ting the city council to nullify the
mos, important provisions.
Reference is made to the inspec-
ton recently made by the members
of the Virginia Fire Prevention Asso-
ciatior and the hazardous conditions
which were found, especially in the
improper storing and handling of
gasoline. The engineer says that con-
ditions are sufficiently bad to require
the adoption of adequate laws with
their enforcement by paid chief OF
the fire department.
Serious complaint is found with the
wiring of the city and it is stated that
on King street pole lines extend on
both sides Of the street and condi-
tions are such as introduce serious
danger to life at time of fire as we'll
as interfering with the raising Of
ladders. Municipal supervision and
adequate laws are badly needed.
A review of the condition of the
buildings says that there is no great
danger of a serious conhagration in
the mercantile district were it not for
the insufficiency of the water supply
and of fire engine capacity and the
lack of the fire alarm system. The
probability of severe local fires how
ever is high, particularly in the block
bounded by King, Royal, Cameron and
Fairfax, in which the frame market
sheds and excessive-area city hall
together constitute confagration
breeder.
In the section along the river front,
south of Cameron street, is a group
of large and excessive area brick
buildings, old, in mainly poor condl-
tion and 2 to stores high; each OF
these buildings is subject to a serious
fire because of the absence of pro-
lection to communicating parts, and
in many instances they endanger ad-
Joining buildings. North of Cameron
street, between Lee street and the
river, are lumber yards and plants,
a wholesale grocery, partly OF frame
construction, and excessively large
frame fertilizer plants.