Imperial Valley press., 1922-12-28
JAIL THREATENED
FOR THOSE WHO
HINDER FIRE M EN-
Recent Near Accidents
Cause of Drastic
Move
Fire Apparatus Must
Have Right Of
Way, Edict

Strict enforcement OF city ordl-
nance No. 229, which provides that
passage of fire apparatus and fire
men shall not be obstructed' when
responding to q fire alarm, is going
to be the rule in the future, accord
ing to Charles F. Ferguson, chief of
fire departement, and members of
the city council, as u result of four
near accidents yesterday while the
department was answering an alarm
from Seventh and Park streets.
"Though repeated warnings have
been given the people of Ell Centre
that all vehicles must turn to the
curb and stop for three minutes
when the fire alarm sounds, this law
is repeatedly violated every time we
answer an alarm, and this practice
must stop if we have to send them
to iail,'' said Chief Ferguson. GAS
soon as an alarm is sent in, it is
the custom for automobiles to race
to the scene of the fire, thereby not
only exposing themselves to the
danger of collision with the fire ap-
paratus, but actually impeding the
progress of firemen who are answer
ing the alarm in their own cars. Ev-
cry car driven by q member of the
fire department, carries o red sign
beneath the license plate, with the
words "El Centre Fire Department :
thereon, and these ears, gust as
much as the apparatus, have the
right of way in answering an larm.
Near Accident Yesterday
"Tn answering yesterdays alarm,
the big fire wagon nearly collided
with q car driven by local busi-
ness man, as it was turning the cor
ner of Seventh and State streets.
Only excellent driving by the man
on the fire wagon saved this citizen
from a possibly terrible death. Be-
fore the scene of the alarm had
been reached, three more collisions
were avoided only by clever work
on the part of th driver. Had any
of these cars been hit and the occu-
pants killed or injured, a great cry
would go up about the recklessness
of the department. We are not
reckless. There would be no hint Of
recklessness if the public will CO.
operate with us. With the flimsy
construction of most houses down
here, every second counts in respond
in gto an alarm, and we have got to
have the right of way.
Right of Way Theirs
"The law gives it to us and we
are going to have it. Every alarm
makes me think, Il hope we hit no.
body this time, and the wagon driv-
ers are under terrible strain. We
don It drive as fast as fire apparatus
in the big cities and our streets are
wide enough to allow the cars to pass
in safety, but this is nullified by
the person who is bound to beat the
firemen to the scene.
"Chief Barker of the police de-
partment is going TO cooperate with
us, and anyone who violates the
city ordinance in the future is GO
ing to be fined $500 or go to Jail
for three months, possibly both, as
the ordinance provides. None of us
are trying to be 'hard boiled but
it is for the protection of the people
of Ell Centre that we are going to
take this STEP"
j. L. Travers, George w. Ander-
son and w. III. Lavayea, members of
the city council, when informed of
Chief Ferguson's complaint, said
they would back his efforts to the
limit. Mayor Will S. Fawcett, who
Is also fire commissioner, is out of
town, but the other members of the
council stated he also would un-
doubtedly back Chief Ferguson.