Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-01-29
AN EXCEL ENT PLAN
Greater Efficiency and Better
Working Conditions Assured
City and Fire Fighters at a
Slight Cost to Taxpayers.


this city, the two-platoon system in
use BY fire departments all over the
\ United States, after which a meeting
\ or tile firemen as d whole was held
at which il was decided to circulate a
I petition among the taxpayers of the
4 city g create q new ordinance that
would establish 1.-THE system On Il prac-
4 tleal working basis March /, 1913.
] The publicity committee Of the fire
1 men consisted Of Clarence Kennedy,
Frank pulaski, Lewis cramer John
Becher, Frank Bane, ed Hit. Ray
sailor, Frank Bradford, Frank jack
4 son.
The ordinance which tile tax payers
4 Will be asked 70 approve by their sig
natures reads as follows.
WHAT ORDINANCE PROVIDES.
That from and after the first dav
Of March, A. ~. 1919, the flremen ana
/ employees Of the fire department oil
the city OF Boise, subject to call. other
than the fire chief, shah be divided
I into two platoons, one to perform day
service and the other to perform night
service The hours OF duty Of the
day force shall be from eight o'clock
n. nj, TO SIX o'clock u M. ana tic
hours OF duty Of the night force shall
be from SIX O'clock y. M, to eight
o'clock q. IN. Provided. that on every
eighth Gay for the purpose Of alter
mating the day force with the night
force and vice versa and for the pur-
pose e giving one force or platoon Of
faen tWenty-four hours Off duty every
sixteen days, the force or platoon of
men to 50 on duty at six O'clock y.
M, on said eighth day and every
eighth day thereafter, win remain on
duty until six o'clock p m, the fol-
lowing evening, but one force Or
platoon shall be at liberty at an times,
eNceRt aT otherwise iii the ordinance
provided.
IN the event 81 great, threatening
OF unusual eonflagfation or other
emergency, the fire chief. his assistant
or other person in charge, may order
such firemen and employees as may Be
off duty TO Immediately enter upon
duty and continue thereon until tile
emergency has ceased.
OFFICERS AND ASSISTANTS.
There shall be the following named
officers and assistants III the fire de-
pertinent, TO wit.
l Chief
Captains.
] Master mechanic
IA Drivers.
Tillermen
Assistant chief.
3 I.feutenants.
/ Engineer.
! Assistant engineer.
s Hosemen.
Making a total Of 50 men. .
The opinion that seems to prevail
That double shift for the firemen
would require twice the number of
men now on the pay roll is in error.
The average citizen harbors the be-
l3ef That the two-platoon system could
net give an adequate service unless
tho roster was increased ion per cent. /
Under the twosplatoon plan no time
rs allowed for meals. the members
taking two meals before. and after
their hours At home ana one at the
fifehoase during their tour Of duty. |
The necessity for providing for meals T
under the continuous duly plan in eff
feet here requires That at least one
third Of the men DO absent during |
the meal hours, which extend over a |
period Il twelve hours each day.
The regular leaves OF absence now
in vogue here further reduce the COM |
Pig lAotsAf ~ AAtftA Tut III Il company I
Ct ten men during meals we have as
few as five members responding for
duty 10 fires
The days orr would be abolished tin-
der the two-platoon plan ana every
man on datp would lie actually III
quarters for the fun period of Ills +
tour thus assuring simplicity disei +
pine and team work. Add two men
10 crew Of ten. and YOU would have
at AL times six men for duty: a bet T
ter average crew than II now possible I
with the same number Of men under I
tile present system
NOW ON CONTINUOUS DUTY.
Under the present organization the +
members Of the Boise fire department T
are on continuous duty, working T
twenty four hours day, with the ex- t
eeptton Of one day off in every six I
DAYS when they are allowed to be at I
home. Each member Is allowed rs go {
Home ta his meals three times n tay. T
The time limit fer meals IS 60 min
ntes for each meal.
This eompels the men To "a homo E
and eat and Immediately return to the /
fire station Men who have been
Worklns AZ q fire at night are re-
CURED to remain on duty the follow
ins day, and fatigue is not accepted
as an excuse for failure to respond 10
every alarm.
The Boise fire department Is today
the only department Of public service
which Is conducted under the plan OF
duty, and in which the
public IS went 70 look for effect, the
efficiency Of the local department
would be greatly enhanced, and the
men given an opportunity, at small Il
extra cost. to enjoy a bit OF home life