The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-12-12
DEPT. POORLY EQUIPPED.
Continued from Page One.)

sion and maintenance of the depart
ment, and that he also act as build
ing inspector.
That five full paid men be APP
pointed.
That 750-gallon per minute
automobile combined pump, chem
zeal and hose wagon, equipped with
40-gallon chemical or 60-gallon
water tank, a 30-foot extension and
14-foot ladder be provided.
That new modern fire station be
erected portion TO be of fire re-
SistiVe construction for housing fire
alarm equipment; centrally located,
for the housing of department APP
paratus and men.
That the fire alarm system be q
part of the FIRE department under
the supervision of a superintendent
of fire alarm, who shall also act as
inspector of wires.
That various wiring conditions be
improved and conditions in the mer-
camille sections of the town be made
safer.
In connection with the town water
supply, it was also recommended:
That the present high rate of
consumption be reduced by the gen
eral metering of all services and
well-defned plan be adopted where
within reasonable period.
That an employe of the water
company respond TO all first alarms
in the mercantile district and TO
second alarms elsewhere, with emer-
gency wagon and equipment
The report consists of II closely type
written pages and comprises an exhaus-
i've statement of the present conditions
II the fire department and the water
a
ions made resulting from this study
The report is prefaced with state
nent concerning the character of the viii
age, its area. streets and grades and
climatic conditions A brief but thor
'ugh statement is given regarding the
records and the outline OF
he water system (which is privately
'wned), which includes a plan of dis
rlbution not up to date. An interesting
eature of this part of the report is that
10 records have been kept of the con-
of water, the average daily
consumption being estimated at 1.2O0,-
100 gallons with maximum daily of
100000 gallons. There are 9J2 ser
ices. OF which but eight per cent are
netered.
In connection with the water distrf-
,ution system it is shown that the hy-
lrants receive quarterly inspections by
he fire department, but none after fires
n in, extremely cold weather, with no
ecords kept.
y detailed resume is given of the or
of the fire department, its
apparatus and equipment; methods used
n fighting fires and the present fire sta
ions. IL is noted that the fire losses
re not recorded. The fire alarm sys-
EN- also is considered, the fact of no
ecords kept and no plans of the system
'eing brought out. The system is classed
S being poorly housed, although fairly
veil maintained; the batteries are
'Oorly located and no arrangement is
made for duplicate source of current for
harging; the method of handling tele-
'hone alarms at fire headquarters is con-
idered poor.
In connection with the response to
larms, the report says:
The response to alarms is Satisf3c-
DRY except for telephone alarms: fire
nethOds only fair; lack of suitable and
dequate equipment, drills and training,
pparatus of unsuitable type and de-
tendance of call horses together with
ractice of not carrying available equip
lent on apparatus all tend to seriously
fleet efficient fire fighting methods. No
uilding inspections by department. Rec
rds incomplete or lacking"
Regarding fire department auxiliaries,
be report reads
Police cooperation with fire depart
lcnt only fair due 10 limited force. No
utside aid of material value available.
'omc industrial plants sprinklered"
y paragraph also is given to confla-
ration hazards as follows: