The Bismarck tribune., 1934-10-12
C|TY'S FACILITIES
FOR FIRE FIGHTING
found INADEQUATE
Chief and Commissioner Declare
Bismarck Fortunate to
Have Escaped

Reviewing BsSmarckS Tire pr0Fec-
tion facilities as q part of the Fire
Prevention Week observance here,
Fire Chief Harry Thompson and Fire
Commissioner H. T. Perry advance the
idea that this city lacks adequate
protection.
Most needed. according to these Of
ficials, IS q ladder wagon, since the
department now has no equipment
which will reach to the top Of any of
the city's taller buildings. In the
event Of q fire in any building more
than three stories high 1t would be
difficult to rescue the occupants, let
alone place men on the roof to vent
the building SO firemen would have q
proper chance to fight q blaze,
Thompson said.
Neither Thompson nor Perry is urg-
ing additional equipment to the fire
department this year but both say
citizens should begin to think about
it and that action will be imperative
within q short time. Their idea Of
what to do would be to purchase q
combination ladder and pumping
truck which would double the fire
fighting facilities and help to reduce
local insurance rates.
Insurance May Re Boosted
Insurance rates In every locality, it
Is explained, depend upon the nature
Of the fire-fighting equipment. An
other inspection here is due soon and
there is q possibility that Bismarck's q
rating may be reduced to such an ex-
tent that an increase in insurance
premiums will follow.
It was mere good fortune, Thomp-
son insists, that Bismarck had no seri-
Gus fires during the last fiscal year
Perry, however, attributes this to the
inspection service which has been
carried on by the fire department. In
many cases orders have been issued
to reduce fire hazards by cleaning UP
premises, improving wiring systems
and reducing other hazards.
The report Of the city fire depart
ment for the last year shows 81
separate blazes to which the firemen
were summoned OF this number 81
were on alarms and 10 were still calls
In 1893 the number Of alarms was rs
and in 1882 it was IS. There were
no false alarms during the last year
Fire Losses Low
Property which 1t Is estimated was
exposed to hazard was valued at 3d.
306, 900 but the total loss by fire dur
ing the year was only $4,637.26, Of
which $3,751.24 was covered by insur-
ance. The figures are the lowest fol
the last three years. In 1888 the dam
age was $3.50, completely protected
BY insurance, and in 1882 1t was $4,7 ,75C
Of which $4,743 was covered by in
Surance.
How much Of the cost Of fire pro-
lection Is represented by mere readi-
ness to serve Is indicated by the hours
the pumping engine worked. In 1884
it operated six hours. in 1888 only one
hour and in 1882 not at all.
OF the fires recorded In 1894, u
were In commercial and public struc'
lures and one In . residential struc'
ture.
Dirty and defective chimneys &C.
counted for IL fires; gasoline or Of
explosions for 6: burning rubbish tol
9: defectiv, wiring for 1: hot ashe!
for Z: and children playing witt
matches for two. In 20 cases th|
cause Of the fire was unknown and 2:
blazes were due to "miscellaneou'
causes"
The complexity Of the fire-fightin(
problem Is illustrated by the mannel
in which the blazes were extinguished
In 26 cases hydrant streams wer'
used; chemicals were used on % blaze
and miscellaneous methods. such q
sacks, snow and sulphur on 10. Moth
ing was used on three fires and u
eight cases cn:mneys were cleaned
Twenty fires already had been ex
ltiugutshed when the firemen arrived