The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-08

, tine charter be amended so as to abo-
fish the board of fire commissioners
The absence OF scientific training Is
perhaps the chief defect Of Richmond's
fire department, aside from the alb
sence of civil service regulations.
Special training is required at every
step in a fireman's work and since
! principles of fire extinguishment have
pre- ctically been standardized, the
training of men to put out fires is no
! longer a difficult matter and is no
longer questioned. But the ability to
| put out fires with minimum loss is no
longer all that is necessary to make
van efficient fireman. He should be
trained to prevent fires through care
full inspection and he should be fami-
liar with every modern development
for fire prevention. Therefore, IL is
recommended that a training school
! for fire service be established in ac-
cordance with the suggestions as TO
equipment and course of instruction
that are contained in the text Of this
report. A fireman should not be con-
fped to one company, but should be
/ tr&ined by being attached successfully
| TO. Gem niles In ell parts Of The city.
truck companies as well as engine
companies. All fireman should be in
structed in the operation of the steam
or gasoline fire engines and elevators
I in buildings. The drivers of the motor
vehicles should receive special train
ing because the number of accidents
resulting in damage to apparatus is
high and most of the drivers do not
know how to make repairs of the most
ordinary character. Setting up exer-
! cises, frequent drills and tests should
be regularly conducted under the SUI
pervision OF the officers.
! ain general, the recommendations
relating TO appointments. promotions
and dismissals In the police depart
ment apply also to the fire department.
and the charter should be changed
accordingly.
The chiefs control over the force
Is somewhat weakened because pro-
motions are made by the board of
commissioners and not always in ac-
cor dance with the recommendations
OF the chief. Pending the introduction
of the merit system for promotions
the board could strengthen the chiefs
authority considerably by acting sole
ly upon his recommendations While
the charter aims to protect the chief
against arbitrary removal without
cause. the method of appointing him
Is not in accordance with the best
practice. Nothing In the charter pre-
vents the appointment OF n chief from
outside of the force. The charter
should be amended in this particular
so as to provide that the chief could
be appointed only as the result OF a
competitive civil service examination
lievcd of the title of third assistant
chiefs only. The chief should be given
the right OF appeal to court Of rec
ord for a review OF the findings in case
of dismissal.
| a n additional assistant chief should
he appointed becaU~e OF the size or
the citS' and the way in which the i'm
portant risks are distributed Under
present conditions. in the absence of
one OF the two assistant chiefs, IL ia
necessary to detail a captain as act
ing assistant chief which is contrary
to good practice. It is recommended
elsewhere that the secretary who lie
now given tbs rank of assistant chief
Ihe made a civilian empioye and re-
lteved of the title OF third assistant
j.. cA4sf--Tha~ .ty-s.hs.sa3d+ be- div dad in-
to three districts with one active as
sistnnt In charge of each district In
the absence OF oae of the assistants.
another could assume charge OF two
districts temporarily. The assistant
chiefs should be selected from among
|Ase SRPAaEiAS ESQ iliE RESULT OF CpI1ps{f-
tive civil service examination.
Under the present procedure. 1t Is
possible for a fireman who has been
in the service but a very short time
to be appointed TO the rank of cap
tain. Captains should be selected only
as the result of competitive civil SER
vice examination to which only the
liertenants should be admitted At
least two years OF service should be
required of a candidate for appoint
inent as captain
/ The lieutenant" IL xtnr3, rhnsh3 -
elected only as the result of corfpeti-
ifiNe civil service examination for pro-
motion 10 which firemen and engine
tnen should be admitted. There IL no
regularly established rank OF licuten-
am at present, and the city council
should establish that grade. In the
absence of an ordinance definitely Ak
il8 their status, the firenen do not
snow the proper respect for the men
designated to act as lieutenants Some
or the fremen even receive more nav
than the men who act as ueutenalts
The lieutenants should certainly re
celve more pay than the salary paid
hrcmen of any grade or engineers
Most or the engineers showed thor
ouEh understanding OF their duties.
ed without any examination to ascer-
tain their fitness for this most import
art position They should receive
higher pay than fremen and should
be required to instruct all members of
eag!se- companies In ~. operation ara
maintenance OF the engine.
The department has made thousands
tof Inspections during the past year To
discover and correct conditions that
may result in fires. These inspections
were made by the officers of the de-
partnent. Uniformed fiFemen should
also be assigned to this work In order
to obtain experience and familiarize
themselves with conditions in their dis
tr!cts, The laws do not give the chief
or the board OF fire. commissioners
broad enough powers to require prop
ertv owners to correct dangerous con-
ditions.
1T is recommended that a law be
enacted creating a fire prevention COM
mission with broad powers. The com
mission should consist of the mayor.