The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-04-07
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A NOTE OF WARNING.

1t is time that the citizens of Oroylle
are awakening to the necessity of taking
some step toward organizing for protec-
ton against fire. This vitally important
measure should no longer be put off to
some future day until the town has paid "a
heavy penalty for its neglect. DO it now.
At once. Immediately. The misfortune that
has befallen two OF our neighboring towns
within the past few days should spur our
people to action. Recently Tonasket suf-
fered from disastrous fire, and follow
, ing on the heels of that misfortune River
side has had its baptism of fire. Both of
these towns, and especially the latter,
were long immune Immunity cannot con-
tnue forever, especially where buildings
are constructed of such inflamnable ma
terial as they are in the smaller towns OF
| the west. This insidious enemy of property
comes when least expected. There are Il
multitude of causes for fires, one and all
of them constantly present, and any one
OF them liable to start a blaze that will
spell the loss of thousands of dollars.
Oroville has been miraculously fortunate
so far in escaping the fiery visitant. Con-
sidering the numerous nests of fire traps
| in the very heart of the town it is simply
providential that this place has escaped Il
serious scorching. There is no telling how
| soon providence may become tired of
playing the role of saviour.
In case If fire breaking out in the
business section, in our present condition
4 OF unpreparedness, 1t would get such "a
start before the means of fighting the
element could be brought into action that
| the people would be helpless to make head
against the ravages OF the red demon And
there would be no excuse for great loss
from lire in Oroville, unless it should
break out during the prevalence of one
OF the severe winds so common to this
valley as there is not small town in the
state with better fire fighting facilities.
There is a strong water pressure with
hydrants well distributed throughout the
business district. There is ample hose
and two hose carts and a chemical engine
Now. what is needed to make the means
effective is an organized, trained and well
drilled body of men to handle the appa-
| ratus that is here for use. There is no
volunteer fire department in town. No
one with authority to take charge at fires
No one familiar with the location of the
hydrants. nor the tools used for coupling
and uncoupling of hose or the turning on
OF the water. No one with the knowledge
as to how to use the means at hand to
the best advantage. This neglect is GRIM
| mai. In case of fire of any magnitude
| there could be only mad rush, a display
| OF raw ignorance, confusion worse con-
founded.
10 not leave the duty of fighting fire to
Tom, Dick or Harry. Make it business
| mans organization. No man with property
at stake should feel it beneath his dignity
| to lend helping hand The town cannot
AFFORD to pay salary to chief of the
department, nor to the force handling the
paid fremen and it is never done. In the
early days of Spokane, until after the
great fire and the city became large
protection of the city was in the hands
Iof volunteer department no better
equipped than Oroville is at the present
time The hose companies were made up
of bankers, merchants, professional men.
printers and clerks. Some of the most
substantial residents of Spokane today
served on the old volunteer fire depart
ment Many We're the fires that that or
ganization was called upon to subdue
and thousands upon thousands of dollars
IN property values was saved by it's
prompt and efficient service. The same
material is here from which to build a
volunteer fire department. Let the mater
is done the better, so that when the siren
gives forth it's doleful warning there will
be an organization of trained men ready
70 spring INTO action, and know what to
do and how to do it, when their services
are needed.