Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-03

lar paid men. In November of the
same year the Gamewell fire alarm
system was installed, there being 2S
street boxes and six imaginary boxes
at present, and all wires belonging to
| it in the paved district are under
! ground. There have been more fire
| hydrants placed in the city each year
and at present there are ITO three
way hydrants in the city limits.
On July 13, 1913, the horse drawn
apparatus was replaced by motor ap-
paratuS and at present the equipment
consists of two triple combination
pump, hose and chemical cars, a hook
and ladder and chemical, and hose
truck chiefs car and steam fire
engine. All are motor driven with
I the exception of the steam engine
which is kept in reserve.
On April /, 1918, Engine House No.
2 was opened at the corner of Tenth
street and Dolores avenue with three
regular and one callman At present
the are four regular paid men sta
toned at No. 2. The equipment con-
siSts of a triple combination pump,
hose and chemical, and the steam
fire engine held in reserve.
On recommendation of Chief w. j.
! Nemeck to the city council at their
regular meeting May II, 1919, reSo-
luton was passed to adopt the two
platoon system for the firemen and
also to dispense with the callmen.
This system went into effect June l,
1919, and was the first city in Ari-
zona to adopt the two platoon system
for their firemen. Since then every
fire department where they have paid
men has adopted the platoon system
in the state.
The oldest man in point of service
on the Douglas fire department is
~. p. StilInan, chauffeur at No. 2
engine house. Mr.. Stillman was one
of the few men who organized the
first hose company back in 1902 and
later was appointed callman, and
when the volunteers and callmen
were disbanded, he had more fires to
his credit than any man who ever
belonged to the Douglas fire depart
nlent. He has been offered promo
tions on several occasions by Chief
Nemeck, but always asked to be left
alone where he is at No. 2.
The present members are Chief
w. j. Nemeck, Assistant Chief H. A..
Kelly, Captain Andrew Branagh,
Firemen Guy Sites, j. B. Stillman
H. G.. Hartman, Earl Smith, Earl
PoWells, R. l.. Watson, Dave Ratliff
and w. H. Nemeck.
The above history was prepared by
the present officials of the depart
ment, and the reader will note that
nothing is said about the record that
this fire department has made. They
can get to fire quicker and do more
efficient work toward putting it out
than probably any fire fighting or
ganization in this state.
The department is run under rigid
discipline. TIL army or marine corps
does not have more strict routine
for it's men. The fire stations and
equipment are kept in the very best
OF condition at all times, and even
when there are no fires over long
periods of time the engines and all
apparatus are overhauled and tested
several times each day.
He Hen sleep III CIle lire SCaClOnS.
The alarm signals ring in their ears
and observers have noted that they
are so we'll trained that they can
arise from their beds, dress and go
laundering out with the big trucks
before the whistle on the top of the
power house has finished sounding the
first alarm.
The Douglas fire department is a
credit to the community in every way