Evening star., 1932-09-08
VATICAN FIRE CHIEF
SERVES 10th YEAR
Marshal vuccetti Expects
| Modern Equipment to
! Aid Force.
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY, September g.
Twirling his white grenadier's mus
tache and his ruddy face beaning,
Marshal Vuccetti, 58-year-old chief of
the Vatican Fire Department, reviewed
the other day his 80 years with the
department.
The interview took place in the fire
house" The marshal gave the writer
his only chair and desk and insisted on
standing, somewhat embarrassed. He
admitted he had never been interviewed
before
Behind him was a battery of II fire
extinguishers. Above him hung dozen
cleaning axes and bundles Of torches
made out Of newspapers tightly rolled
up and dipped in pitch. There was\no
sign of an auto pumper or ladder truck.
Responsibility Heavier
"But that will come" Marshal vuc-
cetti nodded emphatically; probably
before the end of the year" He but
toned the shining brass button on his
heavy dark blue coat. Were hoping
to get an auto pumper. The construc-
ton Of new buildings in Vatican City
Is giving us more responsibilities" Mar
shal Vuccetti drew himself up proudly.
anu WIldJ OO NOu 1ldNC llOW!
-Four carts with hand pumps and
two carts with gasoline pumps These
last can pump $50 gallons minute.
tBut," he added, sadly, most of the
fequipment dates from 1870. However,
4there is q system of fire plugs in the
sVatican to which we can attach our
shoses"
/ How big a staff do you have?"
He pointed to four men, wearing
kkomewhat similar uniforms, who lounged
in the doorway, looking at pilgrims
scroSsing the Sun-beaten San Damasco
Rcourtyard to ascend the royal stairs for
IAN audience with the Pope. Those and
Ekhree others who are at home. We are
9on duty 48 hours and then off "a. We
sleep in the room next door"
He led the writer to a simple room,
flled with iron army beds. Over the
door was a statue of st. Anthony, the
abbot patron saint Of flremen. On a
wall hung a huge photograph of Pope
Benedict XIV, autographed and with this
inscription:
Few Fires to Fight.
I'VE bless with all our heart the fire.
men of the Vatican, with the hope
that they will never have to put out
fires-because we are convinced in ad
vance of their valor If the circumstances
: should arise"
How many fires do you have year?"
Marshal Vuccetti was asked.
His face became sad. mot very
many. A little one here or little one
there"
His biggest fire? when a portion of
the Vatican library crashed last De-
,cember, but that wasn't really fire"
The marshal did not tell it, but it Is
fact that he and his men worked night
and day without let-up until they had
extracted the bodies of the five men
iburied in those ruins. THE biggest
real fire was when the COW stables of
the Vatican burned"
And in st. Peters?"
Practically never. A fire in one of
the small rooms or a ceiling perhaps"
The Vatican firemen's chief work, he
admitted, was that of inspection. Every
evening a fireman, accompanied by
papal gendarme, makes the rounds of
every building in Vatican City"
Marshal Vuccetti has served under
v -four PopeS-Leo XIII, Plus x, Benedict
XIV and Plus XII. He joined the depart
ment as an ordinary fireman, rose to
the rank of "brigadier," and finally to
that Of marshal.