Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
RECOMMEND
FIREMEN'S TRAINING SCHOOL
Committee Report on ID. c., Submitted 10 Commits
sioner Bell, Also Favors More Apparatus
and Added Battalion Chiefs.

ganized and efficient force under the
command of a competent and capable
chief officer" declared the report.
Most. of the personnel. particularly
below the rank of captain. are young
and active men, but some members
are of an age and length of service
which warrant retirement.
1.-THE districts as laid out fairly
equalize the duties and Responsible
ties of the deputy and battalion
chiefs. companies are fairly we'll
manned, and arrangements for main.
tanning their minimum strength are
good The distribution of apparatus
is good for the congested value and
surrounding residential districts, but
some of the outlying residential sec
tions are somewhat remote from a
fire station Ladder and chemical
services are good.
Condition of Apparatus.
apparatus is generally in good
condition and of good type: 1t is main.
" well supplied with standardized
minor equipment. Special appliances
for handling heavy streams are com
plete. The total engine capacity Is
adequate and is supplemented along
the waterfront by efficient fire boat
service. The condition of motor
bumpers, as indicated by the tests is
mainly good. more thorough train.
ing for the operators would be OF
material benefit.
"A large supply of 2l2-inch hose is
provided; il is well cared for and
regularly tested. Good use could he
made of 3-inch hose. but of the supply
provided no regular use is made. .
1.-The department repair shop is we'll
naged and is mainly well equipped
for ordinary repair work. Fire stations
are generally we'll adapted for service,
but some of the older ones lack proper
sanitary arrangements and two are
poorly located for quick response in
their immediate districts.
THE response to alarms is covered
by a we'll arranged running card.
Fire methods are good for ordinary
fires and fairly satisfactory on the
whole, but proper training in modern
methods would improve the service at
extra-alarm fires.
THE present system of drills and
training, while of value in teaching
companies the fundamentals OF fire
service. does not provide needed in
struction quickly to develop efficiency
or determine the fitness of individual
members. The present scheme should
be augmented by an officers school
and facilities provided for training at
Il modern drill tower. Inspections OF
buildings, exclusive of public or semi
public buildings, are mainly by the
fire marshal's inspectors: inspections
Of all buildings in the congested value
district by company members at reg
ular intervals would insure greater
familiarity with local conditions and
changes.
Department records are complete
and in excellent form.
Based on an average population OF
476 600, the average annual number or
fires per 1000 population, the report
pointed out, was A.. high number,
but the average loss per capita, $2.3S,
is low: The gross fire loss for the
past five years. it said amounted to
SIS 1858 the annual loss ranging be.
tween $734292 in 1921 and $2.l53,S02
in 1923. The average number of fires
was 2.134. ranging between 1871 in
1891 and Ass in 1925, with an aver
are loss per fire Of s533, a low figure.