New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-02
Large Increase Made in
Prevention Work, Says
Report for 1916
143 Tugs in Service
Local Hazard Was the Great
est Ever Known, Asserts
Commissioner

With 10000 new buildings and hre
hazard vastly increased by the war
there were 3l2 fewer fires in buildings
last wear than in 1915, according TO
Fire Commissioner Adamson's annual
report for 1916, submitted to Mayor
Mitchell yesterday. Other features Ol
the years work, as pointed out IN 'ne
report. arc the following:
In those buildings occupied by the
largest numbers Of persons ana SUP,
;octed 70 the strictest regulation and
;rsnection there were nearly 1000 fewer
fires than in the previous year
Ioss than per cent of fires extend
"a hevond the buildings in which they
originated. a result due to the qu'cA-
ss and efficiency of the fire fghtng
force.
Fire prevention was extended on d
rrester scale than in any previous year
The parochial schools, 220 IN humOe,'
we're inspected and conditions CORE
cd. 1858 interior fire alarm System
vera installed in factories under de-
nsrtment orders; 2,911 drills in when
so3l1S persons participated were
o.tah,;sbed by the fire drill squad;
uI.rs Cor fire. protection IN the SUBWAY
tunnels under the rivers were prepared
srd are now being carried out; regula-
ton Of refrigersting plants was inaus-
a.od theatre inspection was reorgan-
;zed and the enforcement OF the exit
and occupancy law in factories was
+oton over from the Labor Department
Motor Equipment Increased
Fire fighting equipment was strength
- nv the purchase of sixty-seven
u;ocos Of new motor apparatus ana
trrds were secured for ninety more
rioces. which. when delivered early IN
1917. will give a department flve-s'N'nS
motorized. ot,A rail.
road and other private tugooaIs' a.. -.
eouipped for fire fighting, was auueu "
tbe citv's available force 1or water
front IRE protection.
With ton more fire companies IN SCI
vice and a largely increased ciVlIlan
force. the cost Of the departImoednn. wa, MaS
again reduced, and was SoIo'VVo ~
.t, e., would have been had the rate
of increase prevailing for sixteen years
nrior 10 this administration been con-
tinued. 4..ohl;sbed
attendance ut which was purely volun
tary. and 1898 engineers ana hreiheH
were enrolled.
ain a wear when, owing TO war ana
orosneritv. our local fire hazard was
~ greatest ever known" said Commits
sioner Adamson, "the fire record lnol-
csted above is highly encouraging. Our
hazards we're increased immeasuraoiy
bv heavy munition shipments ana Dy
the great growth in the cChemi'al III,
dustry. Factories, storehouses ana
niers we're choked with goods. Al
though, as result principally OF an
increase of forty-four in the NUMBER OF
ship fires, the burning OF the mum
lions pier in Brooklyn. and the increase
IN fires in chemical plants, we had an
increase in the total fire loss, the TACT
that there was a substantial reduction
IN the number of fires in buildings IS
concrete testimony TO the value OF fre
prevention
Carelessness in Homes Shown
The Commissioner pointed out as
having "a powerful significance to
every family in the city" that three
fourths of the fires in buildings in
1915 occurred in tenements, dwellings,
furnished room and boarding houses;
that the largest single cause Of fires