Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-29
!. Hastings Rowland, Well
Known Here, Now Official
of National Underwriters

VI SNtoNt
Fire Chief Thurston, in his recon-
mendations that additional motor ap
paratus is; needed for the Honolulu
department, has the backing Of the
latest fire-fghting policy as developed
by men with national regulations.
incidentally, IL will be OF interest to
Honolulans to know that j. Hastings
Rowland, formerly assistant superin.
tendent of public works here and well
known throughout the territory as an
engineer. is now chief Of the field
party OF the National board of Fire Tn.
derwrfters. In recent address in
Reading, Pa, on fire prevention and
fire fighting. Mfr. Rowland said:
Fire Prevention and Fire Protec.
ton is the subject in which the peo-
pie in this country OF ours are rap
idly becoming intensely interested,
one which is awakening in US sense
of shame and horror at this enormous
fire waste, which Is proving to be such
drain upon our resources and which
Is undoubtedly showing itself in the
increased cost OF living.
Must Remove Latent Causes.
We can no longer be satisfied with
the spectacular dash of fire apparatus
and the hazardous feats OF firemen.
but demand the scene OF the fire shall
be visited by the careful inspector and
the latent cause Of the confiagration
removed before Il starts.
In the work Of fire prevention men,
beers Of the fire departments in many
Of our cities are now getting splendid
results. Trained firemen are quick to
detect fire hazards and become gen.
orally familiar with local conditions.
With proper police powers to make
necessary inspections and enforce
their recommendation. they are able
TO bring about wonderfully improved
conditions.
Prevention Committee Needed.
There should be municipal FIRE
prevention committees combosed of
Influential business men, Their fu-
ties should be to create strong public
sentiment in favor OF good building
construction and ordinances govern
ing the cleaning up OF rubbish, the
use Of safety matches. reasonable care
with the handling OF explosives and
fnfammables and with heating ar
rangements. etc
Ne Bsli6 600 Rssi6ly. . n .--.--
''As TO the matter of building code
and Ils iihpoftance. good building con-
structiCu y the very basis Of FIRE pre-
vontion We. b the United States.
have built too rtpidly-so many cIties
constituted over night that we have
heretofore neglected to build for the
future. All citizens. individually and
in corporate capacities, must recognize
the present as well as the future econ
0ny Of more stable construction.
There has been a momentous start
on the part Of our progressive cities
70 about building code requiring the
use Of better building materials and
demanding suitable construction for
fire resistance. especially In closely
built and high value districts.
The destiny Of FIRE insurance is to
become prevention We are told that
in Vienna a iire has never been known
10 get beyond the building in which II
originated. and this In spite of the
fact that the FIRE departments of Euro
pean cities are FAR less efficient than
those of this country.
FOR GOOD flre protection 1t is most
essential that city have well disci-
plined. efficient and well equipped
IRE department and a good system of
water supply, adequate at all times for
fighting large fires
Discipline and Training.
Let us now consider what are the
essential features that go to make up
a well disciplined, efiicient and well
equipped FIRE department.
Discipline and training in a fire
department Is paramount to every
thing else Without these, no amount
OF apparatus or equipment can pro-
duce hieh grade Of efficiency.
AS Is found in many cities. salts
factory method Of supervision is to
place a FIRE department under the iu-
risdiction OF commissioner of pub.
lie safety.
Weed Out the Unfit.
That commissioner is not a pro-
fessional fireman and the details Of
MANAGEMENT properly should be left
with the chief These details include
assignments. transfers of men, ar.
rangement Of running cards, etc.
When It comes to appointments, civil
service regulations are needful. proper
physical and mental examinations
weed out the unfit and leave men that