The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-08-31
Fire Chief Back
From Convention
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lNOuLlAuCO A4OAA . e9S -
most important. ones being in the
line of fire prevention and fire alarm
systems. Many causes for fires were
discussed, both accidental and in
territorial, and 1t developed that all
of the fire chiefs had found that
a large number of their fires were
on buildings that carried over
insurance, which indicates that they
might have been intentional fires.
Many new methods Of fire fighting
were introduced and some wonder
full exhibits were shown of every
kind Of fire fighting apparatus. Mr..
Simons says that the European fire
fighting equipment is far inferior to
that Of the United States and seem
to cling to the idea that three or four
small streams of water will do more
good than one large, high-power
stream, which necessitates a larger
and more cumbersome equipment,
which is not efficient, however, the
European cities are getting modern
equipment as fast as possible.
During the convention the guests
were, thru the consideration OF
Chief Murphy and his fire depart
ment, shown all the places OF inter-
est in and around San Francisco.
Fire departments from other near
by cities also invited them to visit
their departments and points of in
terest and furnished transportation
and splendid entertainment. Prob
ably the most interesting excursion
of the convention was to Richmond,
across the bay from San Francisco,
as the guests of the Standard Oil
company for whole day. A very
instructive demonstration IN the
fighting of oil fires was given there.
Large tanks of oil were set on fire
and fought by the old method OF
using water and it seemed to fan the
blaze and give it more oxygen to
burn, thus causing 1t to grow larger
all the time. The Standard OIL
company's fire department then used
the modern method and applied
fire-foam with the result that the
fire was put out In one minute and
five seconds. Fire foam Is the re-
suit of two chemicals which ere
spread simultaneously over the
burning oil and when they meet II
causes heavy foam to appear or
the oil and the fire cannot burn. AS
a result of this demonstration the
chiefs Of the convention have gone
down on record as having endorsed
the use of fire foam for all oil fires
including garages, ETC. In the even.
ing the oil company entertained
their guests at an elaborate banquet
Mr.. Simons says that the conven.
ton was a great success and tina,
much credit is due to Mr.. Murphy
for his splendid management II
bringing men from practically al
over the world to attend such an In
structive and we'll planned conven
ton. He also says that altho thu
fire departments in those larg'
cities are larger and made for higf
buildings they are no better httet
for their needs than is Blackfoot
Mr.. Simons has in mind som'
equipment which he hopes to get a!
soon as the financial conditions viii
allow, such as fire foam and al
alarm system.
In speaking of the city Mr.. Simons
said that altho he was pleased
to see the city once more, he was
more pleased when he could return
to Blackfoot. He said that all Of
the people seem to be in rush ant
have no time for anything but bust
ness, that they live mostly on
twenty-five foot lot and do ont en-
joy life. 1t is true-~that the mel
there are earning big salaries, bu
the cost of living is so much NOR
that they cannot save any of it ant
they still have more worries thai
the people of Idaho. Mr.. Simon
says, II don't see why people will
go to California to spend their say
ings when they can get so nue.
more pleasure and benefit from
them here in Blackfoot, where ther
is room for few shade trees within
few steps of the business district,
The business conditions there wer
found to be no better than here
everything is dragging and they ar
working under a big expense. Their
is very little heard about the rail
road strike there, the trains ar
running on schedule time and Their
is no confusion nor much strik
sentiment. The people are usint
the coal strike to advertise thei
country and it's climate, but whel
the facts are known they use abou
as much fuel as most other countries
on account of the heavy fogs.
Mr.. Simons believes that thu
knowledge received and the benefit
which the city will receive in the
fighting of future fires will be wei
worth the money expended by the
city on his trip to the convention
and that a representative should be
sent from Blackfoot every year tt
get the ideas of men from the large
cities and working under different
similar conditions.
Idaho had a large delegation o.
fire chiefs there and after much dis
cussion they arranged for the 1928
Pacific Coast Fire Criefs' convention
to be held at Wallace, Idaho.
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