The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1915-12-11
FIRE COMPANY
WELL PREPARED
DICKINSON HAS BEST VOLUN.
TEER COMPANY IN STATE. APP.
PLlCATloNs ON WAITING LIST.
H. ]. GRUSCHUS CHIEF.
Chemical Auto Truck Recent Addition
to Fire Fighting Machinery. Quick
and Effective. Always Ready,

For a 1eW minutes Tuesday MORN
ing it looked as though the Dickinson
firemen would have a chance to try
the new city chemical engine. The
doors Of the fire engine hall were
thrown open and the engine was
cranked when the word came that the
fire was all out.
An alarm for fire at the Pete
Brown home in South Dickinson was
sounded which started the city's fire.
men on the run but the next minute
the call came that no help was needed.
A few seconds more and the city's
new fire apparatus would have been
on the move. As it was not wheel
was turned and no one will get any
pay this trip.
It was really disappointment to
the fremen, not that they wanted to
see any property destroyed but they
were little curious to see how the
Ford chemical engine would work at
fire.
A demonstration was made day
or two before when pile of boxes
taken to the waterworks grounds
were oiled and set on fire. Both
tanks of chemical fluid were dis
charged and the fire was quickly
smothered.
This new chemical apparatus is
mounted on 25-H. P. Ford body en-
CINE and will carry a fair-sized crew
in hurry to the fire. 1t is kept in
warm room in the city hall build
ing and is always ready, needing only
to be cranked on the arrival Of the
driver, and there are three regular
auto drivers in the fire company.
The new engine takes along a 2
wheeled hose cart trailer and carries
six charges Of chemical fluid, which is
good for about 90 minutes. In
reality the engine is an emergency
equipment and does it's effective
work during the early stages of
fire. Streams Of the deadening fluid
can be shot into gables and other
high places, smothering the flames
Immediately without watersoaking
any of the property below. It is
claimed that 80 per cent Of all fires
can be extinguished in it's early
stages with chemical engine when
properly used.
For a general confagration the
Dickinson Fire Department has over
1000 feet of hose which can be
brought into use. The steamer can
be brought into use and made to
play two streams Of water most ef-.
fectively, giving a 125 pound pres
sure, against the IA pound pressure
which the hydrants show. The
steamer can be attached to the
Northern Pacific water supply which
has never failing supply from the
big reservoir west Of the city.
Dickinson seems to have about the
best volunteer department in North
Dakota, having in it's equipment
high class chemical engine, a steamer,
hook and ladder truck, carrying roof
and extension ladders, buckets, etc.
The local company has 81 members
and has some on the waiting list, the
membership being limited. The men
are paid only when in attendance at
fires and then 81 per hour.
The present officers of the depart
ment are:
H. J. Gruschus, chief.
C. E. Eldred, assistant chief.
VIM. J. Littlehalcs, engineer and
foreman.
D. A. Cutnaw, list assistant fore
man.
Ellis Hoist, End assistant foreman.
Mike Mack, 3rd assistant foreman:
The 3rd assistant foreman resides
on the South Side and has a cart and
hose in his charge.
On New Years Eve, December 81,
at the Elk hall, the 26th annual fire.
mems dance Will be given. Tickets
are $1.0O, and everybody should help
our volunteer hre1nen by taking one.
Show your appreciation of Dickinson's
splendid volunteer company.