Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1923-01-18
REPORT OF
FIRE AND POLICE
COMMITTEE
Payette, Idaho, Jan. Is, 1928
To the Hon. Mayor and Council,
Payette, Idaho.

Payette, Idaho.
Gentlemen
We wish to report at this time
that in compliance with the action
taken by the City Council at recent
meeting, Dec. 19 to %, 1922, COM
plete and exhaustive investigation OF
the fire hazards of the City of Pay
ette was made.
A complete and detailed report of
all property in the fire district is at
tached thereto.
We desire to express our thanks to
w. A. Foster, Chief of the Fire De-
partment, of the City of Boise, for
his assistance; to l.. R. Pfirman, Fire
Hazard Expert, who personally con-
Quoted the work, for his searching
and complete investigation and re-
port; to B. r. Fitch, Chief of the
Volunteer Fire Department, of Pay
cite, and to the other members OF the
fire department, who assisted in this
important work.
We would like to call your at
tention to some of the hazards found
and mentioned in the detailed report
of Mr.. Pfirman.
Electric wiring in many attics in
very bad condition. Wires not proper
ly insulated. Wires hanging on
nails, wires with insulation rotted off
in contact with wood. Live wires
passing through walls, ceilings,
beaver board, etc., unprotected by
insulators. Loose wires and switch
es. Live wires, not in use, near
wood work with the ends untaped and
unprotected. Live wires carrying
heavy loads lying across and in con-
tact with other wires and woodwork.
LAgas- -wirss connected to iron pipes
Large percentage of ohimneys full
of SCOT and in need of cleaning
Brackets holding chimneys loose
from wall and in danger of falling.
Loose bricks on chimney tops un-
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neys too low, fire menace to adjoin-
ing buildings. In some cases Chin
neys with two openings were found
to be connected with stove on one
side while the opening directly op-
posit would be filled with papers and
rags.
Papers, litter, shavings and kind
lings piled against furnace. Attics
filled with trash, discarded furniture,
magazines, tar paper, bundles Of
grain, feathers, excelsior, straw,
rags, shavings and lumber. Stair
ways, passages and exits obstructed
with boxs of rubbish, furniture, etc.
Papers, used paint brushes, paint,
oil, turpentine, shavings, kindlings,
etc, stored under stairways.
Vacant offices and dwelling rooms
containing large quantities Of papers,
ashes in piles on the floor, ashes in
paper sacks, ashes in wood boxes,
boxes of feathers, boxes of papers
and trash containing live matches,
specially dangerous on account of
mice, bundles of tar paper, shingles,
lumber and discarded clothing.
Ashes emptied through holes in the
floor under buildings. Trash piled
around and under oil barrels.
Weak and unsafe stairways and
porches, these are unsafe for ordin-
ary use, much more so in time OF
fire. Weak and unsafe hand rail-
ings. Radiators elevated on weak
and insecure wooden brackets, very
unsafe and dangerous during rush
from a public building in time Of
fire.
Boxes of trash piled against rear
of buildings. Fire escapes unsafe
for use, broken, wall fastenings brok-
en- or loose from wall. Many loose
bricks on copings, some just ready
to fall, very dangerous to pedes-
trians. Partially filled oil cans in
waste receptacles.
We would like to call your attent-
ion to two of the cases mentioned IN
Mr.. Pfirman's report,
Case No. 80. Attic of this build
ing contains lot of lumber, paper
cartons and debris of all description,
should be removed, very dangerous.
Extension cords hanging on nails in
furnace room. All lumber, hogwire,
screens, grain and hay should be
removed at once, firemen handicap
per in case of fire. Fire escape on
east side should be repaired, covered
With !ce III II ts at the pEesent time