The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-02-21
SkoW hogan Now Has An Up-to-Date
Fire Department

nc fellow beings may be made home
less or that property MAY not he
swept away But how may give
thought to the men and their ma
chimes that go out on that SAME night
to do their best in stopping the raw
ages of fire? Men who battle with the
cold and heat, never ceasing in their
efforts until all possible has been
done to protect the lives and property
of the citizens.
All OF which leads up to the fact
that Skowhegan Is possessed at pres
ent with an excellent fire department.
Few perhaps are familiar with the
work which confronts such an organi-
cation nor the conditions which pre-
vail where the apparatus is stored,
where, at all time everything is ready
for the call of the whistle.
The present building occupied by
the Skowhegan Fire department was
1
the company was housed in small
wooden building situated on the island
at the end of the South channel
bridge. The present building is Of
brick and during the years since it
was constructed many interior i'm
provements have been made. Even in
those days, which would not be con-
sidered very long ago, Skowhegan's
Fire Department was far from what
1t should be Those were days of big
fires when much OF the property was
built Of wood and the only apparatus
of any consequence was the old time
steamer,
This brick structure on the Island
now houses an up-to-date fire dc
partment. In the apparatus room may
be seen the auto chemical, the steam
er, hose carts, supply sled and hook
and ladder A few months since two
large stalls were constructed at the
rear of the apparatus in which the
horses are kept These were built on
either side of the point occupied by
,@a hook and Ladder and at the sound
of the whistle the doors open auto
matically and the horses step from
the stalls, arriving at the proper side
of the vehicle to which they are at
tached The drop harness" system
which has been in use for some time
in the larger cities, is now used here.
The harnesses are hung on two rods
which are operated from the ceiling
by weights When the horses have ar
rived in their proper places near the
pole the harness drops down auto
matically and il Is only necessary to
buckle them and all is ready for the
drive to the fire.
A trip to the lower part Of the build
ing reveals many things of interest
In one room is to be found the lie
Baron Fire alarm system. This is
composed of three compressed air
tanks of from leo to 100 pounds pres
sure. These are kept at the proper
pressure by large motor which
works automatically. When the alarm
blows at 1870 several pounds of com
pressed air leave the tanks; circuit
is formed; the motor starts large
pump and soon the air which has
left in the process OF blowing the
whistle is pumped back. In this way
the tanks are kept full at all times.
During an alarm for fire the pump
works continuously n the same room
Is an electrical device which is con-
neoted with the whistle. On bitter
cold days this current is turned on
and keeps the whistle from freezing.
This apparatus was installed in 1908.
In another part of the building is to
be found the Gdmcwull alarm system.
Here are the electric generators which
supply pOMei III GlButccn Suil DoACSt
two tappers, whistle machine ten
inch gong and the alarm indicator
Two storage battery sets are to be
found here made in duplicate. They
are charged on alternate days. In this
way one may be in use while the
other is being charged Power Is OBJ
tanned from the Central Maine Pow
er Company and Is direct That used in
charging the batteries must be in
direct and for changing it a small
generator is used An experienced
electrician could explain in very
interesting manner the workings of
this part Of the system.
After every fire the hose used must
be washed. This Is done by means OF
Il hose washing apparatus which con-
sists of large steel tube in the in
terror of which is found spray 2oz-
zle The hose is run through and the
spray does the rest. At the rear of
the building is a 35-foot tower in
which the hose is placed after wash
ing. This tower has a capacity Of 1900
feet of hose.
1t is only in recent years that per-
manent men have been stationed at