Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-10
HOW NEWARK'S
F|REMENF FOUGHT
EDISON'S BLAZE
Led by Deputy Chief McDermitt
They Performed Valiant
Service.
REQUESTED TO TAKE
COMMAND AT FIRE
Trained at the Game and
Equipped for the Emergency,
Results Were Certain.

NewarN's fire department played d
conspicuous part in the big Edison
are at West Orange last night and
with the pumping equipment and
7orce Of trained men under command
OF Deputy Chief NJ. p A. MeDermitt
not only blocked the flames from
reaching buildings containing infiam-
sbIe material and valuable stock, de-
signs and patterns. but prevented
their spread in a general way
The first intimation that there was
a fire in West Orange of proportions
100 great for the local department TO
successfully combat, came in the form
OF a call for help to the central sta
lion in the City Hall. This was at
6.26 O'Clock in the evening, and was
from the superintendent OF the Ed
son works. The Newark operator I'M
mediately placed the Edison repre-
sentative in communication with
Chief Engineer Paul J. Moore
"Our entire plant representing five
millions Of dollars, is in danger eN-
plained the superintendent "A fire is
raging here and is likely to sweep all
eur buildings out Of existence. Our
ire department is unequal to the task.
Please send help. We need 1t. Send
as many men and fire engines as pos
sible."
Assuring the superintendent that
assistance would he forthcoming al
once. and advising him to notify
Chief James Sheehan. OF the west
Orange fire department. that New
ark was on the way, Chief Moore
obtained authority To act from the
fire commissioners, and from that
a. HrrI7N "a II action
McDermitt Assigned Command
Deputy Chief McDermitt was as
signed by Chief Moore to command /
the Newark contingent. with the |
usual instructions to report to Chief |
Sheehan Immediately upon his arrival |
on the ground. 1t is here where the |
pumping engines proved |
of great worth in the emergency.
Engines No. %, located in Mt. |
Prospect avenue, and No. "a, sta |
toned in Academy street, with full |
of men, hose and other |
were soon whirling !
toward the Orange mountains. Chief !
McDermit, in his automobile, pre- |
ceded them, and was prepared to |
put all hands TO work at the best |
roints of vantage on their arrival but !
d few minutes behind him.
It seemed as If the people along the |
route knew that the Newark firemen |
we're on their way to the succor of |
West Orange, as the road was
cleared for the speeding, footing ap-
paratus.
There was no one to object to the
exceeding Of speed limits as the fire
apparatus was one a mission of life |
and property saving, the trip to West |
"a fr- arf=
Chief Moore remained at the tele- /
5hone in his quarters in Mulberry |
street to receive any message that |
night come through Chief McRermitt,
whether in the nature of a request for
additional help or information as to !
now the battle with the flames WAS (
In the meantime the chief was dis |
ributing and equaliZing the depart
nent, so as to protect sections of the |
;ity from which apparatus had been !
sent TO West Orange
At 1926 o'clock Chief McDermitt !
.alled up Chief Moore and told him |
hat the situation at the Edison |
works was a desperate one; that the |
water pressure at the /
iydants was but ten pounds, and that |
he pumping engines were not able |
. raise the pressure to more than |
ifty or sixty pounds. from which a |
airly-good stream could be obtained, |
lut not a dashing, forceful one.
Reinforcements Called For.
'Send me another engine and |
hinlS we can hold it." said Chief Nc !
Dermit.
Engine q, from the Vailsburg sec |
lion, was promptly dispatched to re- |
& - 49,
CINE sent to cover No 21's territory.
In the meantime Chief Moore had !
1rdered the supply company with |
Apparatus Inspector Matthew Quig- |
ey, TO West Orange to be ready to |
end proper assistance in any emer- |