New Britain herald., 1928-12-29
DRAMA AS F|REMEN
swing into ACTION
Alarm At Night Followed BY
Swift, Silent Efficiency

Except that the fire apparatus
whizzes out OF doors automatically
thrown open. and dashes madIy into
the darkness. few persons know
what happens when the command
ing clang OF the fire alarm breaks
into the stiffness of the night.
What awake. the tircmen? What
is said and what is done? How do
they know where to go. and who
issues the orders? These and many
other questions could be asked by
tho uninitiatcd. and readily answer
cd by those who have been associat-
cd with the fascinating business of
fighting 1rc1.
Let us suppose an alarm lever Is
pulled in the nor, hern section OF the
city. in the locality OF No. I house.
which Is on Stanley street. near
Allen street The first tap Of the
gong at headquarters is accon'pan-
led by the plunge Of u small circu-
lar cutter which perforatcs the tape
on the alarm machine. The man who
has been keeping watch for just
such an occurrence is on his feet IN
an instant and, with eyes fixed on
the tape, awaits the running Off of
the entire number.
Awaken From sleep
Mcanw bile. upstairs in the sleep
ing quarters. the men have be. n
aroused by the flashing on Of all
house lights. which is accomplished
at the first pnrtoration of the tape.
4 spring from slumber and the
warm beds finds the men instinctly
at the foot Of their bed stepping into
rubber boots. into which trouser legs
we're thrust before they retired. An
upward swoop. a swing Of a warm
coat about them. and hatless they
cash for the cleaning brass pole
that leads down 10 the apparatus
room. Each has his own position on
the truck amid he takes it as IN"
driver sets the motor in motion On
the truck each picks up hat he has
placed there the night before and he
is fully prepared for action.
Location Of Hix Identified
While all this is going on. the
alarm is being completed. The man
on watch sweeps placard from the
file and places it in slot where ~
can be seen by the driver and me
officer OF the company from the
nosition on the truck which th"y
occupy. 1t may be that the flre ~
in a district which does not call 1he
comuany TO action. excepting on u
second alarm. il such is the case. 'ht
mon disnount. the motor is shut on
and the company is at case. n'''
their comrades at No. station VINO
were actually called out have fho-
d,,ed the fire, no fireman re'lqeS'
The sound Of the recall sends mem
back 10 bed. for unbrohen or broken
sleep, depending on the develop
mouts OF the night and morning.
The jerk Of the lever when senas
he alarm into til" tirehouSes Sou"o'
a, the home Of Chief ". J. Noble
and in an instant the stiffness o.
liza -rison street Is broken as the al
rector Of fire fighting swings into
The highway and dashcs TO ;uper\ ,sc
the work of his mon. 1t h''Sh' o&
said in passing. Chief Noble IS 'Ic
on,v fireman in the city who Is on
- hour duty.
silent TIL Vkor Is Reached
No doub, those who have never
la,n in a iirchouse when an alarm
sounded by night are curious ~
,.,ov the reaction Of tn" men as
,,,ov are awakened and what me
subject of their CONVERSE ton IS. FOL
their benefit. it may bc said 'ha| Ne'-
rams of department services ray
,h.v hay. never heard man utter
one word until the apparatus NOV
il reached There is no time tor con-
Each man must dress
Y ithout loss OF a second . n"'' a"'
each must be r"n1y 10 20 OUT ON W.
machine when thu hug Iooro ;'"'ep
open
Tack in tn. station after ihc hrt.
the apparatus must bv washed ana
+ h. chamois applied. III" tp." "nI'h
his bcrr in use is taken from w"
truck and replaced by oth'r lth@'h"
End the car is in readiness for an
other call before the company in &C
ton rctircs 10 bed. Once again che
boots are put in place. III" Lights go
out. the fire houya is again but ah-
other building on the street.