Evening star., 1928-11-06
FAIL TO CUT SPEED
|. OF FIRE APPARATUS
Watson and HarIand Report
Change Would Increase
Danger to City.

George S. Watson, chief engineer OF
the Fire Department, today reported to
Commissioner Proctor L. Dougherty
that regulation limiting the speed Of
the Fire Department in responding to
emergency calls would result in greater
property damage and possibly in loss
of life, and that he is unable to suggest
any action which can be taken looking
toward an improvement Of the present
procedure.
The subject of the speed of fire appara-
tus was brought forcibly to public at
tention October %, when Miss Cecilia
S. King was killed by the car of a
battalion chief speeding to fire on
Fourteenth street. The coroner's jury
which inquired into Miss Kings death
recommended drastic revision of tbs
traffic rules and regulations, or addi-
tions thereto" to bring under their
control vehicles of the fire and police
departments and hospital ambulances.
Chief Watsons report was the first
official document on the tragedy forth
coming at the District Building. 1t
bore an Endorsement stating that Traffic
Director William H. Harland had con-
ferred with the fire chief in preparing
the report and concurred in all its
findings.
WatsOn's Report.
"The situation which was the pri-
mary cause of the accident in question,
Mr.. Watson wrote, lis one which has
been and will continue to be frequently
encountered by apparatus of this de-
partment in responding to alarms.
Briefly, this condition is as follows:
f'WhpnnVpr a cfrppt Et0nS
street intersection, whether for the pur-
pose of receiving or discharging pas
Sengers, or as the result of the approach
of fire apparatus, all traffic on the same
side of the street and in the rear of the
street car is consequently stopped to
prevent violation of the regulation
which prohibits the passing of street
car This stoppage of traffic frequently
completely blocks the right-hand por-
ton of the roadway and necessitates
fire apparatus passing on the left-hand
side of the street car in order to con-
tinue its course to the scene of the
alarm.
"The rules of the department require
That whenever any unit OF the depart
ment is faced with the necessity of pro-
ceeding contrary to the traffic regula-
tions, such progress must be undertaken
with due precautions, and only when
in the Judgment of the driver and the
officer in charge 1t can be done with
safety.
After conference with the director
of traffic I am unable to suggest any
action which can be taken looking
toward an improvement in the present
procedure.
ut has been evident to the Fire De-
partment for some time that the oper-
ators Of vehicles in the District of CO.
lumbia are not sufficiently impressed
with the necessity of giving the de-
partmept's apparatus the right of way.
Sees Greater Danger.
"I am decidedly of the opinion that
a regulation limiting the speed of the
department in responding to emergency
calls would result in greater property
damage and possibly in loss of life.
This report has been made the sub
ject of conference between the director
of traffic and myself, and he advises me
that it comedies with his feelings in the
matter"
The general order referred to, under
date of November 3. directed officers
of the department to bring to atten-
ton of all the members of their COM
mands that "there has been criticism
of the Fire Department in its response
to alarms of fire." and that it is nee
essary that those responding to emer-
gency alarms should observe the ''ut-
most precaution" to carry out the pres
ent rules governing such response.
While stating that all possible speed
is essential in responding to alarms,
the order enjoinS drivers of fire ap-
paratus that "only such speed as is
consistent with safety must be main
tanned.
Attached to the report also we're the
regulations in effect in several cities,
together with the regulation recon-
mended by the Hoover safety confer
ence, all corresponding closely with
the regulations now in force in the Dis
trict.