The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-01-22
FIREMEN'S WORK
is COMMENDED
Edward c. Crosby. Who Has Watched
Proceedings at Many Serious Fires,
Praises Conduct Yesterday.

For about 20 years tin my younger
daySD | was a member of the Brattleboro
fire department, and was present at some
Cf the most severe fires that the village
ever experienced. When the alarm was
rung in for the fire yesterday l felt as
they say old fire engine horses do when
they hear an alarm. They are anxious
10 be at the fire although mt the time
they may be engaged in other work. Ar
riving at this fire | could see it was
bound to be serious. | decided To see it
through. What ] saw was a large wood
en- building nearly 200 feet long. one
mass of flames inside. | soon realized
this building was doomed and the only
hope of saving the big fve-stOry build
ing on the east was to try and hold the
fire and cut ii off where the two build
ingS were joined together. The atten-
tion of the fircmen was directed to this
end. In this they We're successful, for
time but after a while the fire sue
Ceeded in gaining a hold on the roof of
the larger building. \ fight then was
made to save the building, which. after
time. was successful. except the roof
and top story which were burned.
Considering the height of this build
ing. all wooden construction, and open
floors. | consider this a very Satisfac-
tory outcome. 1t was dona only after
IL hard fight and good supply of water.
l have seen the management of many
fires in larger places as we'll as previous
fires in our own village. and consider the
stopping of this fire where they did is
Il record To be proud of, considering the
many handicapS. such aS fighting the
flames from one side tthe south side
being next to the brook. the falling
slate from the burning buildings. which
had to be looked out for. etc. The de-
rartment. without much experience in
lighting large fires, worked understand
| ingly and with a will. Brattleboro is
TO be congratulated upon having 80 will
| ing and satisfactory a corps of men for
| its fire department.
There seemed to be no lack of fire
hose: ] did. however. notice the lack
of straps used to hold the hose while
taking it mp ladders. Some of the lad
| ders had broken hooks or on only one
( side, and the lack of axe-men to clear
| the way for the hose men when needed.
These. however. are small matters. and
can be rectihed. We all feel thankful
! that this menace TO the village from these
! large wooden buildings, by reason of
/ fire. iS removed without further loss.
We al know the cities with their per-
| feet fire departments lose many build
! ingS One | have in miud-a fiye-Story
! brick and wooden building, 1J0xJ0 feet,
accessible on all sides. burned down in
| the middle of the day in spite of the
/ CWbfIS OF INt SbAGudlu sNlEll-Htlu'
/ Mass. fire fighters. We also have late
records of fire ia Worcester. Springfield
and other places. | very much doubt if
even. with the crack city departments
and experienced men. they could have
handled this FIRE 70 any better advantage
4 than wa. don't.
! 4 few criticisms are always in order.
! In the absence 6i the chief engineer his
/ duties We're assumed by his assistant
| w. y Shmmgay. This caused short
/ age of assistants to carry out the chief
/ orders. and see that these orders were
obeyed. as the chief could be in only one
/ place at n time. 1t seems To me it might
| he Il good idea for the chief and his as
/ sistants To visit some of our larger
/ buildings. note the manner of construc-
! tion. and in their own minds. plan a
method of fighting fire. If some of our
/ larger bindings. factories. stores, hotels
and public buildings should be threat
cncd. This suggestion. however, costs
nothing.
EDWARD {. CROSBY.
Brattleboro, Jan. -