New Britain herald., 1927-07-29
FIRE DEPT. RAPED
BY Underwriters
CONTINUED from First Page)

manufacturing center. Surface OF
the city undulated. Grades most
moderate. Streets of fair width;
paved streets in fair to good condi-
ton; others fair to poor. High
winds infrequent.
Fire fighting facilities. Water
works. Municipal works manage
ment satisfactory. Supply by erav-
ity from large reservoir at city
limits augmented by yield from two
other watersheds and pumping from
driven wells: adequate for present
demands and plans have been &C
cepted for an increased supply. Per
capita consumption high due to
large industrial uses. Pressure is
mainly good: not well sustained I'M
der heavy draft. Artefal system
somewhat inadequate; minor distri-
butors mainly small and in fairly
wide gridiron. Gate valves we'll
spaced and in good condition. Hy-
drants well maintained; spacing
good in important districts; wide In
some residential sections.
Fire department. Full paid; of
two platoon basis, Methods Of ap-
pointment and promotion unsatisfac-
tory but tenure OF office protected;
retirement provisions inadequate.
Manning slightly deficient. Engine
capacity inadequate. Chemical serv-
ice adequate. Ladder service de-
ficient. Apparatus in good condition.
Hose supply adequate and well cared
for: some three inch hose supplied.
Minor equipments adequate:, heavy
stream appliances somewhat def
Gent. No drill school held but one
proposed: drill tower to be built.
Response to box alarms mainly
good: to telephone alarms made
ouate. Fire methods fair. 1nspec-
tions of some value. Records In
complete.
Fire alarm system: Automatic
system; under suitable supervision
fireproof except roof. Headquarters
equipment mainly complete but
lacking manual transmitter and
time stamp. Some boxes of unsatis-
factory type; distribution generally
fairly good. Circuits mainly well
installed: small amount of under
ground cable; well installed. No
duplicate alarm circuits to fire sta
tons. Box alarm transmission very
slow; telephone alarms improperly
handled. Tests except of boxes
mainly satisfactory; records except
of boxes lacking.
Summary: Water supply mainly
reliable: quantities available for en-
CINE supply, fair to good. Fire de-
partment only fairly efficient: de-
ficient in men and pumping and
ladder service. Fire alarm system
fairly reliable but slightly made
nuate.
Structural Conditions and Hazards
Building department: Laws
slightly deficient: enforcement ap-
pears fair Fire limits of sufficient
extent; wooden single roofs out
side these limits permitted on dwell
lings. Structural conditions poor.
Explosives and infiammables:
Laws meager and inadequate: en-
forcement with fire department.
.ocal conditions as whole only
fair because of garage conditions
and the indiscriminate burning OF
rubbish.
Electricity: Municipality con-
trolled. National electrical code
adopted; present inspector not per-
New inside work in fair |
little attention given to f,
old work which in general is in poor
condition. Wires underground to a |!
good extent. Only slight trouble
from electrolysis.
"Confagration hazard: The prin-
cipal mercantile district extends
mainly along either side of single |
street and for the most part build !
ings are low and small but some of
the construction is frame and the
ioisted brick buildings are very |
weak from a FIRE prevention stand
point so that serious fires are prob
able at many points The fire fight
ing facilities are fair and good out
side aid Is available so that under /
normal conditions the probability Of
FIRE involving more than a block Is
small.
The manufacturing plants are
subject mainly to local fires as much
Of the construction is Of a good
.ype and considerable private pro-
tection is provided. In the residen-
.ial sections the flying brand hazard
IS a somewhwat serious feature as
he water supply is deficient in some
Vt the sections.
Water Dept. Should Assist
1t is recommended that the water
department. receive all fire alarms
and respond to those in high value
districts on first call and to other
districts on second call, prepared to
open the valves between high and
ow services and if necessary in
NTedSe 1Df TdIt VI utllNti III ootSh /
he "a inch line from Whigville.
The water board is also advised
o augment its equipment for re-
,ording pressures, increase its dis
'ribution mains and install more
bydrants.
Enlarged Personnel Desired
Increases in the manning of the
Are department are recommended to
make the comp MES as follows: Six
men during the day and eight men
1T night in engine companies !. 2,
; and 4, ladder company ! and rec
ladder company; five In
he day and seven at night in lad
der company and 4 men during the
day and six at night in the other
engine companies. hose company 6
De changed to an engine company
md the recommended engine COM
pany.
1t is recommended that an engine
h,