The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-08-07

Ii IS to be hoped that before the
year-l9l9 has passed into history the
city Will completely equip the fire de
partment with the necessary apparat-
Us. both minor and major. To cope sue
cessfully with any ordinary fire IN any
part Of the city. No investment could
be made that would return d greater
per cent on the money expended. The
saving Of one building and its contents
would more than pay for the equipment
to say nothing Of the lives that might
be saved by the fire fighters
Apologies and explanations are of
little avail after property and perhaps
human life have been destroyed by fire
On several occasions the fire depart
ment has rendered valuable service in
tire fighting with its meager equip.
ment. but the city has not the right to
assume that the department can CON
tlnue To keep up this good work with
out proper facilities to face an unex-
pected emei geEcy. that could quickly
develop into great calamity.
AS eternal vigilance is the plice of
liberty, so even more is 1t the price
of safety To that end, before Hood
River suffers the fate of Brownsville
and Heppner, it should realize that
this is time when there should be no
parslmony in providing adequate and
thorough fire protection.
After "a thorough and complete in
vestigation of the conditions relative
TO the fire department the following
recommendations are made
That the mayor and council give i'm
mediate attention and provide ways
and means for the purchase of neces-
sary equipment required by the depart
ment.
That building be erected to house
the fire department with provisions
made for sleeping accommodations for
not less than six firemen.
That the necessary equipment be in
stalled without delay ard that ii con-
sist Of the following
one Blanchard nozzle one Bresman
revolving cellar nozzle and pipe, tip
ore and one eighth inches one cellar
pipe, one plain 2 into one Siamese "a
inch one heavy hydrant gate valve tee
handle 2A-inches one set reverse con
nection tone double male, one double
female 24-inches) one Hale tin roof
cutter one Detroit door opener, 300
feet of Keystone wax treated l3-inch
hose with 4inch tip; one reducer for
same, 2a to lt-inches 500 feet of
keystone 2Ainch hose; one motor div.
ell triple combination pumper, 1000
gallon capacity.
/ In the recommendation of the above
named equipment. it is the desire to
show what is really essential and nee
essary for the department to properly
protect the city,
A we'll organized. we'll drilled and up
to date department is the most yalu-
/ able asset that any city can boast of,
ard every effort on the part of its
/ property owners and officials should be
eXerted to the end that a good organ
ization and equipment be employed.
That the fire hyJrants be regularly
+ inspected and kept in good working
condition, and that no distractions in.
I 81 fe the curb line be permitted within
10 feet of any hydrant.
That stand pipes be installed where
needed. for the purpose of supplying
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water and an ordinance be enacted pro-
hlbitlng the use of fire hydrants for
\ any purposes other than fire.
That an ordinance be enacted prohib.
iting the use of city fire hose for any
other purpose than fire, and that all
equipment of the fire department be
/ placed in the sole custody of the fire
chief, and that no part of the apparat-
Us or equipment be taken from any
-tation by anyone without permission
OF the fire chief
Fires originating from defective wir-
Ing are frequent and insidious for they
usually occur in hidden places where
not likely to be discovered until be-
/ yond control. 1t is therefore, import
ant to have most rigid inspection at
tn time the wiring Is tailed, and
before same is concealed to see that
all lolnts have been properly made.
sutered and taped. 1t is also import
ant that monthly inspection be made
of old and repaired work, as there
were places found where light insulat-
ed drop cord wiring was in use, and in
Others where extension cords of like
material are being used. We find that
since the electrical ordinance has been
enacted wiring installation shows a
marked improvement over wiring in
stalled previous.
The non-Observance of providing fire
stops and protecting exposed openings
in the erection of buildings in the fire
district. subject the town to being
classed as a cOntlagration town.
No one feature of building construc-
tion will contribute more to the reduc-
tiOn Of the number of fire alarms than
a well constructed chimney. built from
the ground up, with the foundation of
the chimney started well below the
frost line. Fire stops are most effec
| tive agency In delaying the spread Of
fire and assisting in conhning it to the
story or department in which it starts.
They protect life and afford a better
! chance for eXtinguishing the flames.
In the constructio of the buildings
used for hotels and lodging houses
there has not been the proper regard
for the safety of life in case of fire,
owing to the limited number and mac
cessiblity of exits. Therefore. it is
necessary for the local authorities to
see that the city ordinances No. 354
and No. 439 are strictly enforced.
We wish to call the attention of the
school board to the following recon-
mendations. fer we consider the safety
Of the schools the most important fac
tor in fire prevention. as we consider
the loss Of property secondary to the
loss Of life. When one considers that
there is a school house burned every
day in the United States, the need for
carefulness is emphatic.
We suggest to the school board that
metal cans be secured for the storage
of rubbish and oily rags and that there
be no storage of any kind under stair.
ways That there be an inspection by
your fire chief of hose, nozzle and ex
tinguishers and heating apparatus
monthly, and if any defects are found
that they be given immediate atten-
tion. That the fire chief occasionally
visit the schools and turn in a fire
alarm without notice to the teachers.
That 10 minutes each week be devoted
tO talks m fire prpVaOtiOD