Putnam patriot., 1914-12-11

FIRE DEPARTMENT
Soon to Be Advanced in Efficiency
Motor Driven Truck Expected Next Month


 With the arrival of the American LaFrance motor driven fire truck some time next month the Putnam fire department will take another for ward step in efficiency. This new piece of apparatus brings to mind the old days of the volunteer department with it's "tubsn and hand hose reels.
 For many years Putnam's best citi- zens belonged to the fire department. The equipment consisted of hand pump kept at what is now fire head quarters on Union Square and another hand pump at the fire house at the west end of the Long bridge now oc- eupied by Nathan Lavine. In those days the alarm for fire was given by the ringing of the Congregational church bell and the blowing of whistles on railroad locomotives. The men would run to the fire houses and out would come the hand pump, A long line of rope would be reeled off and the men would take hold and pull the apparatus to the scene of the fire This same method was used on the hand hose carts upon which the hose was reeled up.
 Arrived at the scene of the fire, water had to be found. There were large eis terms in certain parts of the town but if not near one of these the river, a pond hole, brook or well was drawn upon. There were a few hydrants about the city and the woolen mill pump would be started and water ob- tained that way. It was a baek-ach . ing business to man the hand pumps but there were always many willing hands to do the strenuous work.
 With the installation of the water works the hand pumps were no longer necessary as the pressure was sufficient for all purposes as il is today. Soon members of the department bought a horse hose cart and horses became the motive power. These horses have been furnished by different owners in the city but they have never been un- der contract and were under no legal obligation to use their animals but they were never found wanting.
 Putnam has always been proud of its fire department and with reason. It is a volunteer department second to none. The men are enthusiastic to make it's record an enviable one and have given time and money for that purpose. The good work they have done and the thousands upon thous- ands of dollars worth of property they have saved is known to all.
 With the coming of the motor driven truck it is believed that even more ef- ficient work will be done. It will en- able getting to the scene of the fire much more quickly. When the alarm rings the driver can start the machine at once for the scene of the fire and can reach any part of the city in very few moments. The men will not have to run to the station at all but can run right to where the fire is so that the apparatus will be there as soon as the first men arrive. This will enable get ting to work before fire has much start and 1t is expected that many ii res will be extinguished by this possible promptness without doing much dam- age. It is believed that the apparatus will pay for itself in property saved within short time. What effect the new machine will have on the person. mel of the department Is not known at this time. It may be reduced a little but it is thought that most of the men will still be needed. This matter is now under consideration.
 Fire headquarters is to be remodeled so bat all of the present apparatus may be kept in addition to the truck. This will probably be used on second alarm. The matter is all being work ed out by the ire committee and will be ready to put into operation as soon as the new truck arrives. The matter is one in which all citizens have an interest and it is believed that the Put nam Fire Department is to continue it's good record and make an even bet ter one with it's modern equipment.