The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-06-03
CITY PROBES
FIRE; To BUY
NEWEQU|PMENT
Instructor May Be OBJ
tanned and Department
Hold Daily Drills

The city commi issloners at their
meeting last night held a preliminary
investigation into the work of the
fire department IN fighting the fire
~ the Elk's club building Tuesday
night
The investigation developed the
fact that the city will have to expand
its fire fighting facilities and obtain
better water pressure.
II also resulted IN city Manager
Gladding being sent 20 NJ Paso last
night TO investigate fire lighting
equipment IN El Paso to get a line on
what is needed here and to see II he
can afrnnge to get a man from the
~ Paso department TO come here
und instruct the members OF the local
department In modern fire fighting
methods.
Daily Practice.
Daily practice drills In the use OF
ladders. making of hose connections
etc. VIII be introduced In the depart
ment. 70 keep the men In trim.
The commission found that much
of the criticism Of the department
fighting the fire Tuesday night was
uncalled for. II called In the fire
chief aud the chief OF police and went
into details regarding the methods.
II found that the firemen experienced
considerable difficulty In working due
to the Interference OF volunteers who
were free with suggestions and that
TOO many persons were allowed with
In the fire zone.
u was shown that In case OF a big
fire that it II necessary for a man to
drive from the water station to the
pumping plant at Fifth street and
MnNImNuNm rad Ia sr ali Nss
pump there To increase the pressure.
II was found that u was necessary
for the department to lay all IT, hose
before the engine pump could be
started.
Truck to Cost 10000.
II was said that the city commits
sioncrs have been figuring for several
weeks ON getting additional equip
ment FOR the department and that the
daN previous to the fire u had re-
Ceived figures on the cost OF an aerial
truck. This will cost $4,000.
The discussion developed the fact
that the city must ne converted from
q town 60 city In It's facilities and
that Il viii tax" considerable money,
II was said the city would have TO
increase the capacity Of It's water
plant put in more and larger mains
enlarge the sewerage system. II Is
said that Ia order to go through with
all this work that II viii be necessary
to vote on "a large bond issue at the
next general commissioners election.
This will not bee until 1899, but the
bonds cannot be voted on until that
time.
Misiudgcd Tirc
When questioned hy the commits
sluncrs why hose had been stretched
from the hydrant at Fourth street
aud Central avenue FOR the Elks fire
when there were hydrants nearer tho
building, Fire chief Russell explained
that the hose had heen laid from that
corner by the Highland department
when the highland firemcn misiudg-
ID the fire nnd thought the poatoffico
was in flames. The fire chief oN.
planned that it Is hest TO attach hose
10 the first hydraut within reach ct
the fire.
"lf the department. should 20 hy
o fire he said III would be a waste
uf lime To- turn around and go back
to the hydrant. The alarm that was
turned I'm indicated that there was
fire az Fourth street and Lead ave
nue.. When the Highland depart
mcnt coming down Central got near
Fourth street the firemen naturally
thought that the flames were shoot
ing from the postoffice and the hy-
drant az Fourth ANA Central In that
case would have been the proper one
TO have used,
THE lowlnnd department con-
tinucd the chief stretched rs first
line down the alley between tho
Armurv aud the Elks building and
the highland line was taken to the
back Of the building near the fire
escape"
when The roof fell In chief Russell
said he ordered two lines Of hose to
be stretched up IN" stairway through
the front uf the building lie explain
ed hat the water pressure AZ the
STARE WAS extremely low and that
II was about ten minutes before the
pressure was much increased.
No Long Ladders
Whenever there is q big fire" he
said "the water department starts
The pump on Mountain road between
Fourth and Fifth street. This pump
forces water into the mains. thus in
croasing the pressure. The pump on
the motor fire truck could not be
used until an the hose had been
stretched, ana every inch Of hose
was M demand
The pump on the truck was then
attached to the hydrant al silver
n "a i'ifth street. he said The d.
partment could not fight the flames
4 ON tho roof as one person suggest
ed he said as the department has no
long ladders After the hose had
been stretched. truck was sent In
the Santa Pc shops Tor the extension
ladders. hui before they could be
brought to the scene Il was too late.
Railroads Promise