Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-23
ANTHONY McoRANN
On Training the city's Fire Fighters

~" sVaU'V0 sVV wy V"V V"s
LEW residents Of Philadelphia know the
l. amount Of time and care which Is ex.
pended upon the technical education OF the
members of the City Fire Department, or
that the city maintains for this purpose u
school which is noted for its excellence
throughout the United States. The first and
most important requirement Of fireman Is
Anthony Mctirann, instructor at the Trnih'
ing School for Fire Service.
"Our training school," said Mr.. McGrann.
has been in operation since 1913 and we
have graduated 1907 men as thoroughly ef.
fcient for fire service. The period OF tram.
weeks Of five days. instruction each week.
"We are now getting q better class of
men than we formerly did. and more men
are apparently eager to be appointed to the
fire service.
Courage Always Required
"Before these men come to the training
! school, they have received their appointments
as members of the Bureau of Fire and have
passed all the physical and mental require
ments of the bureau.
"Nerve and courage are primary require.
very long to find out whether or not man
has these qualities and In what quantities
he has them. Some few men who have come
| to us have never been up high ladder IN
| their lives and to most OF them the whole
experience is entirely new. We are very
! treated fairly. There arc no favors shown
and I never allow any of my assistants to
| humiliatc O man or to make demands upon
him which are beyond his physical strength.
As consequence. we have M % never nag az any any
| complaints from any OF the hundreds OF men
| who have taken the course.
"Discipline and respect for authority are
| the first elements in the making of good
fireman, and these must be taught first. We
can take about forty. eight men at the school
at one time. We have had more: but that is
about the number which the building and tho
| yard will accommodate to the best advantage.
Regular Attendance Required
''Thc utmost regularity OF attendance is
required. II man misses three days during
| the trimming course, ! can do nothing but
detach him. and later he must take the fun
| course again just as though he had not
pnssed the examination. Even sickness can-
not be taken rs an excuse
1.-THE reason for this rule is that the neil
learn something new every day, md the fifty
1.-THE principal requirements of n fireman
ore good health. courage, physical and men.
mi activity and n cool head. In the cmer :
eency Of a FIRE. he must decide many things
| upon the instant and his decisions must be
right. have often been asked by the stu.
| dents NJ thc ce""oA ""1 ""S s"hRo uIc
taught them for which they do not see the
necessity. The answer IL that these things
teoch them resourcefulness and give them
knowledge which may be exceedingly useful
in an emergency.
"They are taught everything about fire.
6uhting except the actual experience with
real flames. One important thing Is that
thsy nrc taught the standard names Of tho
Nrs tools and when and where to use them
and with ns little damage as possible.
Rescuing Human Beings
"Each student Is given thorough course
in the rescuing Of human beings from a
burning building, and they are taught how to
lie helpless person 10 as to carry them most
ensiiy and how to prepare injured persons
Tor carrying out Of a building. This Is par,
! ri the course and is In addition to the work
Of actually fighting fire.
eve are now getting a lot of boys in ths
| 6ra service who have had excellent prelimi
nary training. Many Of them have seen sery .
ice overseas and therefore are accustomed IA
disciplne. II. in addition to this, we car
keep them on their toes they are bound tC
make good Arcmen.
'"The men must make on average of 10 70
graduate; II they do not. they must return
10 the school for another fifty days. tram
ins,, Seventy five per cent OF the studcnt,
arSiuAte, OF the last squad. which Dlrccto,
C1t11lypu and Chief Davis. 0s MN q - a
n tkSycAeol. considePsd an cspSlelS eSei ons
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