Evening star., 1923-02-16
POOR WATERFLOW
BIG FIRE MENACE
District Officials Consider
Sending Water Department
Men on All Alarms.

As Il result Of their dangerous ex-
perienCeS at Il fire which destroyed
the warehouse of the Peoples Drug
Stores at 1922 Ist street northeast last
night, when lack Of water permitted
| the flames TO set beyond control. Of
fcials Of the fire department today
were considering the advisability Of
! having the water department send an
emergency wagon to answer all first
alarms OF fire in the future.
Heretofore the water department
has sent lis representatives out only
upon receiving third alarms. Until
the water department arrived last
night ami opened more valves. per
mitting additional water 70 flow into
! the mains in that area. the firemen
! had to fight Il serious blaze in the
| face Of a strong wind without suffi-
| cient water.
Have Fire Bell.
| There is fire bell at the water
pumping station. but, ii was stated by
! officials. the emergency crew is not
notified to turn out except on third
alarms. J. s. Garland, superintendent
Of the water department. said he is
! called on the fourth alarm.
/ The Washington Gas Light Com
pary maintains a special fire service
! wagon. which turns out as promptly
l as Il piece of fire apparatus to every
! alarm east Of Rock creek. This crew
{ renders valuable service in cutting off
gas pipes in burning buildings.
! Acting Fire Chief Andrew J. Sui
| livan today indorsed the suggestion
dan nrff Sh n
/ also send a crew to all fires.
Valuable Time Lost.
E'iremen point out that when it
becomes necessary, as 1t did last
I night, to change the flow of water
in the mains, minutes are precious.
\ Nor is it an easy task, they say, for
water employees to turn out at night
! should be open or closed to increase
the flow of water.
For these reasons, it Is pointed
/ first and third alarms becomes an
important factor in overcoming water
| difficulties.
Supt Garland admitted today that
! there was scarcity or water at
last nights fire. He explained that
Florida avenue northeast, is at the
dead end" OF the gravity section of
| water mains.
When water department employees
| valve at North Capitol street and
! Florida avenue, which permitted
water to flow to the fire ground from
the first high pumping service"
| Chief Sullivan said that after this
\ change was made, water pressure
| 10 I,n anf
| exactly how long his men had been
| fighting the blaze when this occurred.
Fireman handicapped.
| The chief said frankly, however.
that his men were handicapped in at
tacking the blaze by the water situ-
alton. He cited the case Of No. en-
| gine, which could not get water from
the first plug it pulled up to. Whether
the hydrant was frozen or out Of order
| is not known.
| Engine No. IA, the most powerful in
/ the department, had to be throttled
down, the chief said, because OF a
thin flow of water. When there is
plenty of water, he explained. this en-
CINE can be opened wide and will
| throw water with tremendous force.
But when the flow is poor the engine
must be operated slowly.
| The fireman also tried to attack the
fire from the rear with a "deluge
set" which consists Of three small
hose lines concentrated into one large
section at the nozzle, but the water
flow was inadequate, they said,
making the apparatus useless.
To Improve Situation.
Water department officials say there
are bound to be dead ends" where
one pumping area ends and another
starts, but there are always valves
near these points. where the adjoin-
/ ing areas may be united during q
| fire.
When the new conduit, pumping sta
ltion and liberation plant are COM
pleted water pressure will be I'M
proved in the gravity sea, Supt. Gar
land stated. The plan Is to supply
the high outlying section from the
new plant, which will. be at the west
end Of the city, leaving the present
1st street reservoir to feed the graV-
lfty or lower part of the city.
| Supt. Garland estimates this should
add at least five pounds Of pressure to
the gravity area