El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-23
FL PAS0'S FIRE
Loss PAST YEAR
TOTALLED Si04, 400
Value Of Property Involved
S3,763, 105; Department
Answered 308 Alarms.

The total value Of FL Paso property
involved in fires during the year end
ing March 81, 1914, was S3,763,1O5. The
value Of the buildings was S2,4l5.sS2
and that Of the contents S1,349.11O. The
total insurance involved was $Z,456sl4l-
the fire loss for the year was Sl04,=OO.
These figures are contained in the an
uual report Of fire chief ". ". Arm
strong which has just been filed win
the city clerk.
During the period covered there was
a total Of 3O8 alarms The month Of
December, with 81 alarms, headed the
list January was next with So In
NDril there were q; May, 80; June %;
July, %; August IS; September, %;
October, %; November. p; February
and March Of this year. q each
One hundred and eighty-five buildiuE
fires. IS other than building fires and
six fires outside Of the city limits were
responded to. OF the 267 actual fires
reported, all were confined to the
building or place Of origin and only
one. the FL PasO storage warehouse. eX-
tended TO adjoining floors
Hot Ashes Lead Causes.
For causes known, hot ashes lead the
list, 30 fires being credited to this
source. Children with matches come
next beings responsible for % fires. The
origin Of Al fires were unknown Six
fires were believed to have been Of in
cendiary origin gasoline stoves caused
II fires and sparks from locomotives
caused a like number Smokers and
trash are blamed for 10 blazes and
tramDs Tor five.
Chief Armstrong again recommends
the purchase of a 10 circuit battery
hoard and repeater, stating that he has
included such recommendation in rs
report for the last three years The
time has come" the fire chief says.
when this addition to the alarm system
should he given careful and immediate
consideration"
Wants CcatraI station Divided
The recommendation for the disposal
Of the Central fire station, replacing Il
l.ttu tyyo stations, one west Of FL PasO
street and one in the Tlclnlr- OF the
IOltec club, is renewed BY chleI Arm
strong The Central station he re
ports, is badly in need Of repairs and
has been for the past two years If an
eFrlv cuauge is not contemplated the
chief suggests repairing and repaintins
the structure
II would recommend the purchase OF
lots for station purposes IN the vicinity
OF Montana and Cotton streets. the re
port reads, and in the Alta vista dis
urict. These districts are really IN need
Of such fire protection now but II VIII
not be long until such move VIII be
absolutely necessary
The recommendation for the immedi-
ate purchase Of an aerial hook and lad
der truck 20 replace the old truck at tnS
Central station is made It Is stated
that the truck has seen over 20 years
of service and is many years behind
the time It is considered burden OF
expense to the city
crease the size Of the water mains IN
Highland Park The water service for
fire purposes in that section. II is said
IS poor
Motor Fire Apparatus Urged
On the ground that moor apparatus
IS no longer an experiment molorl1lhS
the entire fire department as soon as
possible Is recommended
In responding 70 the various alarms
the department laid $1,000 feer OF hose
f25 feet of ladders used Sc chemicals
eight pumping engines and 100 IRE
hvdrants- The distance Travelled was
the fireme1 worked 100 hours and -
minutes The attendance at the 1lreS
aggregated 1856 men, an average OF
u 2-5 men per alarm.
Addition and Equipment
Additions and equipment included:
Sunset. East FL Paso and Highland
Park stations repainted. an American
been contra cted for and is expected 20
be in service within few days, "A
discs that serve as imaginary alarm
boxes have been added TO the telephone
transnitter: a telephone operator OF
yratchman has been appointed and as
signed to the Central station. bis du-
ties are To look after the station prop
NIT alarms to other stations IN 1e alb
Sence Of central; 5000 feet Of new nose
has been purchased and is now IN use
There are Il paid firemen In the de-
partment
In concluding his report, chief Arm
strong extends his thanks to the city
council for ccIrtesies extended inc
police and other denar5men5s or the
CITY are thanked for their cooperation
Also the members Of the fire depart
-neut ore thanked by the chief Tor
F.f-rfu1 and efficient service