The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-12
FIRE FIGHT |NG. EXPANS|ON |S. URGED IN CITY.
 National Board Of UnderWit- CTS Makes Report On Bir- mingham's ConfIagration Hazards-Commends Men ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT NEED IS AlCH STRESSED Commis Asked To Pro- hibita.se Of Combustible Ro. .aEssoverings On New Or P Work Within Limits

<bort of the National Board of
 ~s Underwriters on the city of Bir- nSngham reached the city hall Thursv day and was a subject of much in- terest to the commissioners and other officials It superseded the 1909 re- port.
 Regarding the quality of the fire department equipment and the men who serve in it the report is com mandatory. and speaks in high terms ofethe officials who direct the serv- ice, but it pointedly calls attention to the need of more men, more ap paratus, more fire hydrants and fewer shingle roofs.
 Regarding "Conflag grafton Hazard in it's general summary. the report reads as follows:
 Tn the congested value district, weak construction, lacking in fire re- sistive features, makes severe in dividual to block fires probable.
 The water supply is reliable and adequate and the fire department, though somewhat deficient in men and apparatus, is an effective force, so that, with the mainly good street widths, fires should normally be con fined to the block Of origin"
 Blocks in which the conflagration hazard is marked the report an nounces are three, the block bounded by Twenty-first and Twenty second streets and First and Second avenues the block bounded by Nineteenth and Twentieth streets and Third and Fourth avenues.
 Water Supply Commended.
 Concerning water supply the re- port in part, says:
 Fire flow tests indicate that suf- ficient amounts can be delivered 70 the congested value district and that in the southern portion of the dis trict ample quantities are available for direct hydrant htreams.zIn the northern portion of the district the supply available is considerably less due to small mains, but Is practically equal to the full required amount for engine supply. Supply is adequate in the warehouse section south of the district, and in manufacturing dis tricts ranges from poor to good.
 Tn minor mercantile and resi- dence sections in the central portion of the city, supply is generally good, but in the stern and western por- tions, including the mercantile sec tions of East Lake Pratt City. and Wylam, and the residential districts in East Lake and West End supply was found inadequate. Mainly good quantities were obtained in the high service.
 The main arteries to the center of the city are well located and adequate in size; the arteries extending east and west to the extreme ends of the city are of insufficient size, particu- larly on account of the friction loss due to their lengths. Secondary feeders to supplement main arteries are widely spaced or lacking in the outlying districts"
 O O O
 Says Fire Chiefs Competent.
 Of the fire department the report, in part says;
 The department is under good su- perVision and commanded by ex- perienced and competent chief of- ficers.
 "The distribution of companies in the main part of the city is satis- factory, but, because of the great area covered, detours necessary 10
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