Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-29
CHIEF v. J. lUTz
GIVES PRAISE TO
FIRE ARTMENI
Says the Men Did Splendid Work
Though Confronted by Many
Handicaps.
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Chief William ]. LutE, in speaking
Of last nights fire at the Wilmington
Leather Co. S works. Third street and
Grccnhill avenue had nothing but the
warmest praise for the members Of tho
Fire Department He said today that
twice rs many engines as were used at the
fire last night could not have done any
more than those in use. Discussing The
work Of the hTcmcn, Chief Lutz declared
that some of the hose was actually burned
by the fire. Last night s FIRE, the average
spectator agreed, required treatment
that a volunteer department could not bc
expected 20 give
MIR. IutE said that IL solid streams on
the Greenhill avenue side Of the building
did absolutely no good as the fire was
furnace and the water thrown on the flame
only added 10 the spreading of tho fire
The blaze was difficult ono 30 reach
The Wawaset box was struck bv someone
and resulted in some fire apparatus going
10 that section When the engines started
toward the scene Of the fire NJ the leather
plant. some became stuck and DELAYED
arrival at the fire
Mr.. 15utz said that before any engines
could reach the plant IT was q raging
furnace. as the entire sky was lighted up
Discussing water pressure. the FIRE chief
declared that as far $ he knew there was
plenty of pressure and hc had heard NO
complaints about any lack of pressure AZ
the engine houSeS of several Oi the com
panies today tho members reported plenty
of pressure AT last nights hrc.
LrTz mas No CRITICISM.
MIR. Lutz said there was plenty OF
water and he supported his statement by
the fact that there were IL sohd streams
working on tho Greenhill avenue side Of
tho plant The low pressure that may have
prevailed on some of the linrs Is probably
due TO the fact that as much as 500 ieet {
separated the pumping engine from the
end of the hose and in this way much pres
sure was lost Some engines were also
pumping moro than ono stream.
Air l.utz denied that ladders and axcs
were not used on tho building. rs he said
the Delaware Fire Co. had its ladders az
and axes were used 20 get streams Of water
into the modern building at Third anC
Greenhiil avenue
Councilman Alexander r Abrahams
chairman of the FIRE committee OF City
Council highly praised the work Of the
fremen He said that low pressure that MAY
have been reported by some Of the com
panies was due TO tho engines beng some
distance from the nozz,e
When asked about his views on the
volunteer fire system as displayed at tn,
fire last night. Mr. Lutz said that he did
not care to make a statement at TIN:
time. Councilman Abrahams, although
iavoring paid fire department said he
had no criticism for the volunteer system
FIRE BILL IN COUNCIL
CITY Council, meeting as a commit
tee Of the whole tonight will consider the
draft OF bill foT a paid ilre department
The fire committee ot City Counci
submitted a resolution to Council tw,
weeks ago urging the paid department
The resolution was accompanied by the
draft of a measure creating paid depart
ment which Will be submitted TO the Legls-
lature fits approved by Council. II /
expected that the committee of the whole
tonight will put the stamp of approval or
the paid department measure.