The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-04-28
FIRE MARSHAL FILES
REPORT ON A SURVEY
OF CONDITIONS HERE
Observes That No interest Taken
In Fire Department or Fire
Fighting Organization.

Following is portion Of the re-
port made by deputy fire marshals to
the state department, relative to con-
ditions as found in Athena when the
survey was made by them recently.
The city is built on level ground
z and the. surrounding country is al
most level open farming land. The
streets are wide and all paved in the
business district, and graded in the
residential district. The sidewalks are
mostly cement. There are alleys one
way in the business district.
Practically sixty per cent Of the
mercantile buildings are brick, five
are two story. TIE chief conflagra-
tion danger exists in the frame range
consisting Of six frame buildings
which are on Main street. The res
idential district is slightly scatter
ing and buildings frame. The spec
ial hazards consisting of Touring mill,
warehouses and feed mill, are so far
enough removed from the city to
practically eliminate exposure hazard.
The police service consists Of a
day marshal, no night service. The
fire loss for some years has been
comparatively small. Inspection re-
vealed electrical wiring to be general
ly defective, housekeeping and other
conditions fair, some rubbish in back
yards and alleys.
The water system is owned by the
municipality and is gravity system.
1t flows from springs by gravity to
the reservoir, which has a capacity
of 100000 gallons and is located three
miles southeast of town at an eleva-
tion Of one hundred and twenty feet
above Main street, Additional supply
comes from a well ten feet square
and twenty feet deep located at pump
ing station near the flour mill
The fire department is composed of
volunteers twenty-four in number,
eight men to each of the two hose
companies and eight men to the truck
company. The chief is Sam Haworth.
There is no interest, however, man
ifested in the organization as neither
meetings or drills are held.
The equipment consists of one hose
cart, Main and Railroad, carrying five
hundred feet of 2h inch hose, two
open play pipes and one AK; Fourth
and Main, one hose cart and five
hundred feet of 2A inch hose and
one open play pipe, Bird and Current,
one village hook and ladder truck.
The fire alarm bells, are located at
each station.
We recommend that the city use
its police authority to cause the re-
moval of the old frame buildings on
Main street. If such policy is adop-
ted and followed out with discretion,
owners can be in most instances per,
suaded to improve the property BIZ
the erection of fire resisting buildS
ings. If not willingly, the city can
require it. This action will very
greatly improve the city in every way
and will eliminate the conflagration
hazard.
We recommend that the city pur-
chase "a small motor car with chem
ical tanks, hose bed, ladders, etc.
There is no chemical equipment at
the present. A city the size of
Athena cannot afford to be without
up to date equipment. The old hand
reels have served their purpose but
are now entirely inadequate. The
motor rig should carry all necessary
fire fighting equipment and paraph-
ernalia and be ready to respond to a
call at any moment. Athena's fire
protection cannot be considered ad-
equate until such car is installed.
We recommend that the city i'm
mediately proceed to reorganize its
fire department. Without trained
department, Athena is surley taking
great unnecessary risks. Water sup
ply and fire equipment are Of only
limited value unless men are trained
to use them. The department should
be active and have regular drills, in
order to know the use Of apparatus
and be able to cope with the emer-
gency when it arises.