Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-13
OFFICIALS INSPECT
MODERN FIRE HOUSE
Quarters of Engine Co. No. I
Prove Revelation Of COM
pleteness.

Members OF City Council and the
directors of tho Department of Public
Safety on Saturday afternoon made an
official inspection OF the improved fire
house known as No. in Tntnall street
north of Tenth, formerly the home of
the old Friendship Volunteer Fire Com
pany, and round there what is said to
lie ono of the most modern structures OF
tho kind in this section oil the country.
The building has been remodeled and
completely altered throughout the inter-
Tor and made to conform to the more
modern system Of the new paid fire de-
partment but the exterior has not been
changed in any particular.
Believing that the residents of the
city should have every opportunity to
see the building and know Just what the
city has in the way or up to date quarters
for the men who risk their lives to pro-
tcct the properties OF the people of VIII
mington the SAFETY directors announced
after Saturdays inspection that Engine
House No. will be open to the public
tor inspection next Saturday and Sun
day. Each day the citizens are invited
To visit the building between the hours
of 10 O'Clock in the morning and
o'clock in the afternoon and and 10
o'clock in the evening.
Those who care to inspect the house
will find firemcn on hand to escort them
through The building, TO show them what
everything is tor and how the system is
maintained. The visitors will find these
men most polite and accommodating and
willing and anxious to be of service to
everyone and, no doubt, the very efficient
corps of men in the new depart ment will
he a revelation to many.
On Saturday at the engine house as
soon rs the officials had assembled the
. members of Engine Companies Nos. and
and were drawn up in line at attention
tor inspection, every man being IN full
uniform. For the present two companies
are stationed there but 1t is the prema-
ncnt home OF Company No. / and
Company No. 4 is there only until
their own home at Twelfth and King
streets has been completed. 1t is now
helng extensively improved.
The visitors found on the first floor
two powerful pumping engines, each
propelled and operated by gasoline
engines, and two combination wagons
OF the automobile type. Each apparatus
is equipped with all modern appliances
tor use at fires, even down TO an apph-
ance TOT thawlng out frozen hydrants.
They are a new and they are kept in
first class order. all meta parts shining
~ when they first came from the factory.
On the south de OF the room is a
small booth in which the man on watch
has his station. There are telephones
and the punch register showing the box
alarms and this booth Is never vacated
day or night, as a man Is always on
watch except when the company is at a
fire. On the north side in the rear is a
kitchen equipped with modern gas
stove where the men may repare their
meals and on the south side IN the rear
Is the workroom.
The rear OF the second floor is one big
room well lighted and well ventilated
where the men sleep. Each has his own
bed and they were in the best OF order
with snow white lines covering each.
OF this room is the wash room Tor the
men, finished in white marble and tile
and equipped with two shower baths.
Next comes the sleeping quarters Tor the
company officers, a small but neat room
and opcnlng of1 from this is the recrea
alton room. There the hremen spenC
their eisure time between alarms. The,
may read. study or play but they have to
remain there and are not permitted or
the first floor unless doing some worl
about the engines OF cleaning up tn
place.
In the front an Office Is provided 10
the cher of the fire department an
next TO that is his private bed room
Opening of this Is also the private bat
room for the chief. Throughout tn
building there are speaking tubes an
pongs for quick signalling from one par
10 another. The basement Is one bl
room used Tor storage purposes. In IN
rear is a modern heating plant. BAG
Of the engine house is hose tower 10
drying the hose after it has been IN use.
After the visitors had been take
through the building they were give
"A demonstration OF how fast the treme
can work. All the men were sent TO IN
second floor their regular quarters an
then the gong was sounded: They can
down the sliding poles like flashes
lightning, rushed 10 their respectl'
places on each Of the engines, tore o
Their shoes which went flying throug
the air, and jumped into boots, at th'
same time pulling on their rubber Goa
and donning their helmets. The motto
were then started and IN less than
minute after the FIRST tap all the engln
were fully manned, each hremen pro-
crly equipped and everything ready