Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-09
Annual Report of
Chief Engineer of
Fire Department

Inc annual report of Chief Engineer
John A. Buckley of the Augusta fire
department for the year 1913, which
has been submitted to the city coun-
Gil, shows that during the year there
were l2S fires and % box alarms. The
value of the buildings where fires &C.
CURED and where there was loss was
Sl4690O, the insurance on the same
was s122,500 and the loss paid by in
surance companies was $5924.52.
The value of contents of buildings
where there was loss from fire was
$ll6,094.45, the insurance on the same
was 5,400 and the loss paid by insur-
ance companies was $74oo.S7. The total
valuation of buildings and contents
was 1852, 994.45, and the total loss on
buildings and contents was $13,32539.
The loss out Of the district was $4,000.
Tho average per capita loss by fire
in the United States today is about 81.
The average per capita loss in Angus
ia during the past year was about 81.
The report also contains a detailed
list of the calls to which the depart
ment responded during the year, both
the box and still alarms, giving the
date and hour of each, the location of
the fire. the owner and occupant of the
building, the value of the building and
contents, the damage to the same and
also the insurance, all of which con-
stitutes a record of much value.
Other matters considered include the
condition of the several hose houses
and that of the equipment of the de-
partment in general. On the subject
of fire hose the report says:
TIE city should have at least 10000
feet of servieeable hose on hand at
all times. We have on hand today 1000
feet of hose, part OF which is poor.
| would recommend that the city pur-
chase 1000 feet of extra good hose eV-
cry year. This hose would have to
last at least ten years in order to keep
us with supply of 10000 feet on
hand at all times. Occasionally the
city does not purchase hose during
the year. or purchases a poor quality,
SO that we do not have as large sup
ply Of hose on hand as we ought to
have"
Attention is also called to the fire
alarm system. regarding which the re-
port says: Our fire alarm system,
which was installed in the vicinity of
twenty years ago, was as good then
as the system in most of the cities. AS
installation it is not up to date. Pro
vision should be made for a battery
room, new switch board. new repeat
er and numerous other things to make
our system up to date and more relia-
BILE if the city is ever in position
where it feels able to build a new
fire station"
Included in the report are the fol-
lowing recommendations:
"A new fire station is a necessity in
this city and should be given first con-
sideration 1t would be time wasted
just now to talk motor propelled ap-
paratus as we have no place TO house
it even if we had it.
We should improve and expand on
our fire alarm system but it should be
installed in a new fire station instead
of in City hall where it is at present.
Our present system is liable TO de-
struction at any time as it is not
housed in a freproef structure. and it
is liable at airy time to destroy City
hall. This statement l give you from
the board of underwriters.
THE people of this city are today
paving a good rate for insurance and
if | am correctly informed from the
underwriters who make the rate of in
surance, the rates in Augusta are to
be raised at once on account of the
fire station and fire alarm system
would ask the city government and the
citizens to give the matter careful
consideration and see if it would not
be good economy to erect suitable
fire station and own it rather than to
pay double the amount to the insur-
ance companies each year and have
nothing to show for it except higher
insurance rate.
Il would recof~~ !: That the city
purchase 2000 = Of good hose at
once; that hos house No. 2, Cony
street, and hose house Ne. ., Grove
street be painted this spring; that
the salaries of the three drivers be
raised that at least two permanent
men be appointed: that the three drlV-
ers have two days each month off duty
and one evening each week off duty"
Several other subjects are consider
ed, including the Firemen's Relief AS
ISOLATION, Fire Prevention and Clean
up Day, improvements, ETC., all OF
which contribute to the reports inter
est and value.