Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-16
CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
MAKES Splendid SHOW
Well Equipped Fire Apparatus Gives
Satisfactory Test.
TO LET PEOPLE SEE.
Actual Cost Of Fire Department a
Minimum Valuable City Asset
Things the People Ought to
Know.

a complete test of the combined fire
companies of the city was held last
night on Duke on Gloucester street
The pumping engine was stationed al
the corner OF CONDUIT and Duke OF
Gloucester streets, and the auto truck
of Independent No. Company at the
corner of Green street while the big
ladder truck OF the Waterwitch Com
pany was placed in front of the Munic.
ipal Building
The department is now complete in
every detail, and while it is hoped that
it will not be necessary, ii is ready to
meet any emergency. The combined
department has a fire-fighting capacity
of four flood streams each from the
big pumping steamer and the combi-
nation auto truck. In addition the
auto truck carries in hand extinguish-
ers twenty-five gallons of chemical
the Rescue truck, besides, being a
helper to the pumping engine. has two
32-gallon tanks of chemical and the
Waterwitch ladder truck has two 30
gallon tanks of chemical
One of the principal tests was that
of the aero ladder on the Waterwitch
truck, which rises sixty-five feet from
the ground and carries hose with an
inch and three-quarter stream The
ladder was raised in front of the Mu-
nicipal Building and the stream of
water thrown over the top of the build
ing at least $50 feet
It,
Capital representative, Chief Phil Il.
Porter expressed his entire satisfac-
tion with the tests made, in fact with
the whole department. And, he can
well be proud when the facts are Ia
ken into consideration.
During the year, from March /, 1915.
to March /, 1916, there were SO alarms
of fire, 3 of which were false alarms
were chimney fires, were house
fires and the rest miscellaneous. On
these different fires there was a risk OF
$l50,000. while the actual fire loss was
only $1,000, which speaks well for the
efficiency of the department; $4,000 OF
this $1,000 was on one fire alone, the
Adams Hotel fire of March. 1915.
The Chief gives considerable credit
for the small fire loss to the people
for their carefulness. The new auto
apparatus has proven it's value in fire
fighting with chemicals and its ability
TO respond quickly, which makes the
use of chemicals possible. The pump
ing engine has not been called on since
the Adams fire over a year ago Be
sides the three automobile trucks
there are several pieces of horse
drawn apparatus ready for an emer-
gency.
The actual cost of the department to
the city, including lights, fuel, chem
icals, salaries. etc, was S3.791. 40
which is very reasonable considering
the actual fire risks
The drill last night was for the pur-
pose of showing the people just what
they had been helping to pay for, and
to get the boys of the different com
panies together and working in uni
son. Several similar drills will be
held during the summer, perhaps once
a month, at different places through
out the city.
All in all, Annapolis has a fire de.
partment of which she may well bC
proud, and the laddies of the different
companies show the right spirit oi
promptness, willingness and ability