Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Abolition of board md Training School
for New ISiremen Arc
RECON- n, pded.

While a careful examination OF the
records Of the Board of Fire Commits
sioners indicates that the members are
faithful in their attendance at meet
inys and interested in their work, the
weight OF experience in other COM
munitics Is against the administration
of 4 highly technical service Ike n fire
department. by board OF commits
s!oners. The powers conferred by char
ter uror the board tend TO remove the
department from the remainder Of tho
cooperative relation.
The work of the board divides itself
into two main parts: One. the purchase
OF supplies. and the other control over
appointments. promotions. transfers
and dsmissals. The making Of pur-
chascs /? a function which belongs
TO central purchasing agent. a po-
siticn the establishment Of which is
recommended elsewhere in this report:
be made as the result of competitive
civil service examination. while the
trans ferring, Of fremen and their off,
exercised by the chief OF the depart
ment. The main operations Of the Fire
Department should be under the direc-
lected because OF expert technical
training and experience. Consequently
the department could bes; be admin
!stered II placed under the supervision
Of the Mayor or central executive. to
whom the chief would be directly re-
sponsibl..
the charter be amended so as to nbol-
sh the Board Of Fire Commissioners.
Lack of Scientific Training.
The absence OF scientific training is
fire department. aside from the ab-
sencc OF civil service regulations. Spe-
c'al training is REQUIRED at every step
IN a ireman's work. and since prin-
cipies OF fire eXtingulshment have
practically been standardized, the
training of men TO put out fires is no
p..r Il AFT tnr Il
! ~ no longer questioned. But the abil-
| ty to put out fires with the minimum
loss IS no longer all that Is necessary
10 make an efficient fireman. He should
careful inspection and n" sho,iId re
familiar with every modern develop
! it is, recommended that training
Schooi Tor fire service be established
IN accordance with the suggestions as
! 10 equipment and course OF instruction
mat are contained in the text Of this
| report.
The chiefs control over the force
| Il somewhat weakened because pro-
notions are made by the board OF
| commissioners and not always In ac-
c%rnancr win the recommendation
Of IN. chief. Pending the Introduction
or ne merit system for promotions
! inc board could strengthen the chiefs
h a,n hority considerably by acting sole
~ uDon ms recommendations. While
| the charter aims 10 protect the chief
! against arbitrary removal without
cause cause, The method of appointing him is
not in accordance with the best prac-
| t!ce Nothing in the charter prevents
me appointment Of chief from out
sue ss 1919, OF the Lorcs, The charter should
provide that the chief could be an.
pointed only as the result of a connect
I'VE ,iNll service examination. which
would he open TO tho assistant chiefs
! only: The CHIEF should he given the
| right Of appeal to a comrt Of record
d d4r ,; q reviHw of the findings in case
An additional assistant chief should
ne appointed because OF the size Of
n me c,'S ann me WY in which tho i'm
present conditions. in the absence 81
ono OF the two assistant chiefs. il is
ing asssan, ehief @h Gsp'd II as act:
to good practice. II is recomInendea
n nn a;~sn Ia, hat the secretary. who is
he made civilian employee ana re-
| lieved OF the title of third assis,ant
chief The city should be divided into
three districts. with one active assisto
| ant in charge Of each district Tn iha
absence of one OF the assistants ane
Other could assume CHARGE of two dis
chiefs should be selected from anon
the captains as the result Of conner,
| tiT" civil service examination
tnhcr tn. present procedure n TO
possible for a fireman who has been
! in the service but n very short time IN
be appointed to the rank Of captain.
result of competitive civil service ex
animation to which only the licutenanfs
| should he admitted. At least two years
Of service should be required Of n can
didatn for appointment as captain.
Power TO Correct Conditions.
| The department has made thousa nds
Of 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-
partment. Uniformed firemen should
also BIO assigned to this work. I'm order
to obtain experience and familiarize
| themselves with conditions in their dis
tricts. The laws do not give the chief
| or the Board of Fire Commissioners