San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-05
NON-P OIL T|CAL
FIRE FORCE
!. URGED
Report Recommends S. A.
Water Supply
Development.

Recommendation that the fire de-
partment be taken out of politics; that
the water supply of the city be further
developed and additional mains in.
stalled and better distribution made:
that better type of buildings and
closer inspection of buildings be in
cluded in the new building code; that
a better method of responding to fire
alarms be worked out and adopted and
improvements in the fire alarm sys-
tenn provided, are the recommendations
made in the report Of the National
Board Of Fire Underwriters for fire
protection and prevention in San An
tonic, made public Tuesday. The re-
port is the first that has been made
since 1910.
MUCH TO COMMEND.
The report, however, finds much to
commend in the methods and system
now in. effect. Speaking of the fire
department it says. The fire DEPART
ment is under good supervision and is
commanded by experienced and COM
petent chief officers. Discipline is
rlgidly enforced and the school of in
struction has materially increased the
efficiency of the department. Re.
Spouse to alarms is generally well ar
ranged, although in some sections tho
practice of permitting moving in of
captains at discretion is unsatisfac.
tory.
Methods of appointment and promo
Mons without adequate tenure of of.
lice protection are subject to political
preference" The report recommends
that all appointments and promo.
tions in the fire department be made
tor indefinite terms, with removal only
for cause"
ALARMS SLOW.
The fire alarm system is under
generally satisfactory supervision, but
IS only fairly well maintained. The |
lack OF duplicate fire alarm circuits TO |
fire stations seriously affects reIi. |
ability of operation. Telephone alarms |
are generally well handled: speed of |
transmission of box alarms is slow.
VI the water system and distribu |
iNBOlI Gays ATIffltS tW1- |
Ter mains) are of good size and gencr-
ally well arranged; in some parts the
arterial system is incomplete and tho
supply is mainly dependent upon n
single large pipe. The gridiron of
minor distributors generally mas suf.
tlcient strength but excessive small
pipes for domestic distribution, cxcrs.
Sive lengths without reinforcing con-
motions
sections and there are many dead
cndS.'" .sa
Low WATER SUPPLY.
The water supply reserve reservoir
elevation is too low for equalization,
the report says.
OF building conditions, hazards and
fire prevention and the new building
code the report says: Municipal reg.
ulations are somewhat inadequate and
deficiency in personnel OF the inspect
or's office and neutrality-suspicious. Of
The requirements prevent full value Of
the regulations being obtained. In tho
new code being compiled improved re.
qairemcnts should be included. and
provisions made for sufficient person
mel to adequately and impartially en-.
force the code. The fire limits are ex.
tensive. Structural conditions have ma
terially improved in recent years By
the increased amount of fireproof con-
struction and protection afforded by
automatic sprinklers, but the predonI-
mating construction is weak"
FIRE HAZARDS.
The conflagration hazard is de-
scribed as follows: an the cOngCStcd
value district non fircprOOf buildings
are mainly of low height. The streets.
a few alleys and the river divide the
district generally into small and ac.
cessible areas. Sire s are narrow and
overhead wire distractions are serious
in places. The lack Of protection in
brick buildings TO numerous vertical
and horizontal openings, the large tn
excessive areas and considerable
amount Of frame construction, creates
n high potential hazard. which is miti
gated by the large amount of fireproof
and by TIE sprinkler pro-
lection. The water supply and fire de-
pnrtment are mainly adequate, and thu
resultant probability hazard is low for
he district MS a whole. although ser-
Gus individual and group fires are
probable in several parts Of the dis
trict.
I'm manufacturing and minor mer-
camille districts, severe local fires are
probable. The wooden shingle-roofed