Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-14


back of 635 North Carolina
avenue southeast.
A band Of sturdy men stand at its
base, apparently surveying its sheer wan,
unbroken except by windows stills. Then
at given signal they answer the chal-
lenge. Less than so seconds later the
foremost OF them chambers over the
cornice stones onto the roof, having
climbed from sill TO sill.
From ranking officer to lowlieSt pri-
vate the District of Columbia Fire De-
partment is steadily accomplishing the
huge task Of putting every one Of its
men through a rigorous course in IRE
fighting. now risen to the stage of a
scientific, even mathematical, study
Upon the successful completion OF the
course now hinges to an extent mans
service in the department.
The ascent of slim brick that's the
6T-foot training tower at the FIRE train
ing schools but one of the many
phases Of practice through which Chief
Thomas OConnor, head of the instruc-
ton unit, puts his men.
Must Penetrate Smoke.
They must venture also into the inky
depths Of smoke filled chambers. some
times masked and at other times bare
headed This to appreciate the dangers
Of smoke fumes and the value Of gas
masks. They are required TO slide six
stories down lifeline, alone and again
carrying the burden of an unconscious
body. They must learn to jump. too,
into g Me-net held by comrades below.
There is an art to hosting ladders,
to carrying hose and connecting it, to
making rescues from greater heights
than can be reached with the longest
ladders. In classes OF ID the firenen
are taken carefully through the 30-day
course. and at the end are expected to
emerge accomplished in every phase.
Chief O'Connor, with the assistance
Of his staff, which includes Capt. S. T.
Porter. Sergt A. J. Bargagni and Pvt.
A. H. Schwink, intersperSes the outdoor
practical training with lecture periods.
Must Know Pressure,
The latter forms an important part
Of the course. During these periods the
firemen are instructed as to the use Of
every one Of the hundreds of imple-
ments associated (many Of them ex-
clusively) with fire lighting They are
shown how to gauge presSures Of water
according TO hose and tip measure
ments taking into consideration the
elements figuring in loss OF power, such
as friction, length OF hose, etc. The
fireman must know exactly the pressure
Of water which energies from the nozzle
Of his hose for a certain type OF FIRE II
Is a mathematical problem in hydraulics
that goes far into the decimal points.
1t is incidental also that the pressure
gauge taught the firemen here, which
was worked out by o. E. Fearn, the
Fire Departments superintendent Of
machinery, has been accepted as the
standard by the Board Of Fire Directors
Of the United States,
batting IRE Chief O'Connor whose 81
years experience in the local depart
ment takes in the period Of horse
drawn fire apparatus, has assembled in
his school, as far as possible. every type
Of implement used in modern fire fight
ing. Included in these are tools which
are designed to aid the fireman past the
most stubborn barrier--lock breakers,
door openers. ceiling hooks, battering
rams tin-roof cutters, clswbars crow
bars, axes pinchbars, electric wire cut
ters. etc. The respective use Of each OF
these and many other weapons are
carefully taught
Extinguishers Studied.
The various types OF fire extinguishers
are studied. the methods OF combating
FIRE with chemicals, manner OF hhching
hose of various sizes together, Airing
streams and ventilating buildings after
fires are extinguished carefully are gone
over In every detail with the iFemen.
They must know. too, how TO shut on
gas mains, water mains and electric
current in building that has been
attacked by IRE
Scaling 10 slxth-story level IN so
seconds is not done with the aid OF an
ordinary ladder reaching that height.
Fire companies nowadays have what Is
known as a pompier ladder. being
hook-ended pole with cross members lor
rungs. The implement Is IA feet long
and weighs about 80 pounds, and Is
capable OF carrying q weight Of zoo
pounds The climber places the hook
over a ledge, hauls himself UP, brings
the ladder up behind him, and ascends
the next flight and 50 on.
The many methods Of utilizing the
ladder are taught the firemen. Some
times II Is used ia chain formation. .
ladder for each story and a man 20 each
ladder The fireman must learn how
TO transfer the ladder 20 the story above
him while standing and while sitting on
windcw siils. when ascending and de-
scending by this means q pornpier belt
with iaTgs,.Ao0k like clasp Is used. This
enables the fireman to hold himself IN
POSITION while using his hands for other
purposes.
Officers Mast Take Course.
calisthenics end military drills have
been adopted as definite part OF the
course These are conducted by Capt.
Porter and Pvt Schwink respectively.
Immediately following the 81 call each
day, Chief 0'connor reads has class