The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-20

became entirely motorized. with the latest of equipment; branch stations were increased in num- Der; the new central headquart- CTS in the City Hall were estab- lished:' new fire alarm boxes were located all over the city; hydrants were increased hugely in their number; the entire fire alarm sys- tenn was modernized; the two pla- toon system was placed in opera ton; efficiency was so high that 1t became taken for granted as far as the department was con- cerned. All the achievements made under Chief Heitman would, If completely listed. fill pages and pages of fire department history
 Waterbury Loved Him
 As Q fireman, Chief Heitman needs no printed eulogy to deserve the appreciation and thanks cf the Waterburians whose lives anu property he had entrusted to his care. He was as good a smoke eater" as any of the youngest men in the department. He did not hesitate to help battle flames himself if the occasion ever arose; he never asked man in the de- partment to perform a danger ous task that he himself would not be willing to do.
 In the department, Chief Heit- mans fairness to all his men be- came legendary in the 20. years he served as chief. Strict he was at times, but only when he knew that something had to be done and that he had to order it. But when a man did good work, the chief did not hesitate to compliment him openly. He was not. never- theless, a harsh taskmaster; hts men knew that he expected re- suits and they knew that they had to be worthy of the confidence and trust which he placed in them.
 Buddy of His Men
 Nor did the chief use his off. cial position as bar between him. self and his men. He encouraged them in their various recreational and special activities; he often Joined in himself. not as 'the chief", but as another man. For that his men gave him the admir- ation and friendly respect that he deserved.
 Always the Fireman
 Chief Heitman was first and foremost a fireman; every alarm that came in while he was on duty was answered by him. Any fire that came during late night or early morning hours, and threat ened to be At all serious, found him at the scene. The last big blaze was the Canal street fire of June 10, allegedly incendiary, and the chief personally directed the many companies at the scene in battling the dangerous flames.
 The coal yard fire in Meriden this summer, which almost spread to the Silver City's entire business section, brought Waterbury fire- mon to the scene in response to a call for help, and the chief, as usual, was in the front line. For his work that day he received the personal thanks of Mayor stephen Smith of Merlden and the fire de- partment of that town. ff
 Never Sought Publicity
 Modest and retiring, the chief avoided publicity as much as pos- sible, but the city knew him never sheIess as an able and conscientious public official. He was veteran of all the major fires here of the past 70 years. including the great fire of 1909. tho incendIary City Hall firo of 1919, the Connecticut hotel blaze of 1916. tho DriEEE and smith fire Of 1917. the blaze which destroyed the old Crosby sigh school annex the following year. the Hodson restaurant and hotel fire q few months later. an- other Iiodsen hotel fro in 1928. the New Years day biare shs