Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-02-05
PROPER FIRE PROTECTION.

Perth Ambov has been extremely fortunate
in the matter of fires. Comparatively few
alarms that are answered by the fremen
amount to much. comparatively speaking of
course, every fire, no matter how slight Is
detriment, but taking the losses as whole 1t
will probably be found that Perth Amboy has
an excellent showing.
Nuch credit no doubt, is due the efficiency
of the fire department. Although the city still
has what is known as a volunteer department
and must depend on a majority of the men
hurrying to a fire from their places of work or
from their homes if the alarm is sounded during
the night. the fact remains that as good time is
made in answering an alarm as in many places
where they have paid fire department. Be
cause of this efficiency fires that might develop
into serious confagrations are caught at the
very start and confined to very small area.
In the case of the fire early yesterday morn
ing. while the loss was heavier than usual. the
6remen, after all. did remarkably we'll in con-
aning the blaze to the single store which was
located in a solid block in the heart of the
business section. The fact. too. that the alarm
was sounded in the dead of night when most
of the fremen were at home and asleep is all
the more creditable to them.
The fact is Perth Amboy is so fortunate in
fires that occur here that the city is apt to ne
eject some of the necessities for real fire pro-
lection. The city is growing: equipment that
was sufficient few years ago is not adequate
today But because there are no serious fires
the things we know ought to be done are apt
10 be neglected. But fire is a dangerous thing
TO take chances with. Because we have been
extremely fortunate heretofore is not reason for
taking it for granted that we always will be.
1t is the duty of the city officials to see that
everything possible is done to give the city
md that means every section of the city-the
fery best protection possible.
Recently the city installed several new fire
alarm boxes. That they were needed has al
ready been demonstrated. The more numerous
the fire boxes the quicker an alarm can be
sounded and that means the fremen can be on
the scene that much quicker. Every minute
counts once fire has started.
Some of the residential sections of the city
are but poorly provided with fire alarm boxes
at the present time True, there have been no
serious fires because of a lack of these boxes,
but that is no protection for the future. The
precautions ought to be taken before the dam
age is done not after. The people in the out
lying sections of the city entitled to this
protection. They ought not to be compelled to
run for several blocks before they reach
an alarm box. Yet in some sections the boxes
are very few and far between This is something
that is worthy the attention of the Board of
Aldermen.
There is reason to believe that the whole fire
alarm system be speeded up and modern
fzad Tba IN ha
that adjacent boxes not on the same cir
cult. Then if one box fails there a chance of
sending in an alarm from the next box. one
broken circuit would not then throw out
whole section of the city.
Perth Amboy has reason to feel gratiied over
its fire record, but it is foolhardy to take
chances. Firemen who are doing good work
as has been demonstrated time and again in