The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-04-05
NOTES FROM
CAMP
SHERM AN

fry Associated Press to The Bannerl
CAMP SHERMAN, CHILLICOTHE
o.. April THE fire which destroyed
the entire upper half of the Masonl,
building in the Community Group {
few days ago, doing damage of nearl,
$4,000 is the first serious fire CamJ
Sherman's city of frame buildings has
had, and the absence of conflagra
tions in a camp of highly infamable
buildings numbering more than 1900
has caused not Il little wonder nj the
methods employed in fire prevention
Perhaps the whole story can be told
in these words: Organization and in.
spcction.
As would be expected. the military
organization Is responsible for su.
prcme sort of care In guarding against
fire. as against anything else that
might do damage In the camp. Con.
stant guarding which carries with II
the requirement of lookout for fires
or anything that might cause fires, Is
one of the biggest things contributing
TO the small number Of blazes the
camp has known.
The divisions fire lighting force,
with It's constant inspection work, has
been handled In a manner that there
is never any laxity or carelessness al.
lowed. so back of the good record the
handiwork of the fire fighters can be
seen.
The organization IL q unit within
Itself, known as he 308th Fire Truck
and Hose company, Lieutenant NJ. j.
Graham, formerly captain in No. 3
Company Of the Cleveland fire depart
ment, is commander lie has Il force
of six sergeaDts, 12 first class privates
and 25 priyates to aid him. Nearly
every man has had fire lighting exper-
ience In civil life and the non.com-
missioned officers are old fire fighters
from various departments In Ohio c.
ties.
There are three fire stations in the
big camr, one In Section Y, one in
Section X and the third at the Base
Hospital, Equipment consists of six
combination automobile pump trucks
and chemical tank extinguishers with
~ hose reel houses scattered through
out camp for emergency use. Each fire
house carries red light signal at
night. as do the telephone alarm sta.
tions, which are located in 40 bar.
racks buildings. Small hose reel hOus.
green lights.
I'm addition TO the regular equip.
ment. each barracks building now has
IS fire buckets, four fire water barrels
and chemical extingulsher operated
by hand. Men of the various cOmpan.
les are drilled in their use.
Constant inspection OF alarm sys.
tens, fire plugs and conditions about
camp Is carried out by the fire force
There was NOT Il single case OF froa.
en- water plug In camp during the
past winter
Warehouses; have articles stored
according to specific rules of the fire
department. Coal sheds and all other
such buildings are watched closely
Various units In camp have been a..
structcd In fire iighting work 40 that
there will he no Overlapping" In
event Of fire. For instance the pla.
toOn quartered nearest hose reel Is
detailed permanently to handle the
pany use buckets. One company In
each unit IL detailed In the same way
To guard with guns In case of a fire
and every man Is drilled In HIS fire
lighting duties Just the same AZ In his
other military duties.
Should such Il thing happen that
fire should get beyond control. there is
Il detachment of men I'm charge Of
Lieutenant Dean, powder and dyna-
mite expert which can be relied upon
to blow mp buildings that might cause
Iuflhcr spread or tho tre.
The base hospital IL the hest guard.
cd In camp because OF danger 10 the
helpless. It has its own apparatus and
is theoretically grouped into five sec,
tions, with nine small stations There
IL siren whistle for a fire alarm and
every nurse, doctor and officer and
all enlisted men are drilled weekly In
fire emergency matters.
The group OF community buildings
has protection from the several com.
panics and In addition, II special fire
lighting platoon of Company l. 339nd
Infantry, stationed nearest the group,
is subject to call II needed at any.
time,
IHy Associated Press Ia The Bannerl
CAMP SHERMAN. CHILLICOTnE. !
o. April 3-The Signal Corps is
searching through camp for men who
are experienced in handling homlng
DiepOng tonrtapn nnlIatad n,ar Go,