The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-04-15
Fire Surrey of City Revealed
Many Defects and H0s0rdS
Recommendations Made At
Banquet To Eliminate
Potentials

wednesday, under the sponsor
ship Of the Community Club,
twenty representatives OF the Min
nesota State Fire Association, in
conjunction with the State Fire
Marshall's office, conducted a fire
inspection Of the city. Following
completion Of the inspection a
banquet was held which was at
tended by approximately 10 men.
George Fish, chief of the local
fire department, acted as chairman,
and first introduced III. v. Himsl,
deputy state fire marshall. Mr..
Hfmsl stated that in the inspection
OF the school 38 defects were
found, some of them serious. He
recommended fire doors in the
boiler room, and new hose. He
stated that If a fire started in the
boiler room, as 1t now is, 1t would
spread so rapidly that the depart
ment would he unable to check 1t.
He complimented the school auth
critics for the cooperation given
them and stated that in the fire
drill the pupils were out of the
CNAOOu uA oAC AlAuuCc dAiu lilly SCI
onds.
M. d. Canterbury gave "a report
on the inspection. He explained
that the Minnesota Fire Prevention
Association is composed Of travel
ing members Of stock insurance
companies, and that they conduct
at least one inspection each month.
They were unable to cover all the
places in Sank Centre, but in the
business district and with the
churches and schools the men COW
cred 112 buildings, in which they
found 106 defects. Some Of these
were serious, some OF them only
minor defects. A total of 451 rec
concentrations were made and he
advised strongly that all defects
be corrected as soon as possible.
Some of the most serious defects,
he stated, were in electric wiring.
He advised an ordinance for this
purpose. He also advised discus
sion among families as to how to
get out Of the home in case Of fire,
and said that the people should be
their own fire marshall in their
homes.
8. M. DeWard discussed recon-
nendations to the fire department
and to the council in the matter Of
building ordinance: He stated
that the record of fires in Sank
Centre has not been gratifying,
and that they do not expect as
many fires as have occurred in the
city during 1886. He asked the
council to give careful thought to
the recommendations which will be
made in writing to that body in the
near future. Sank Centre being in
sixth classification, which Is based
on loss ratio, it should heed the re-
concentrations to eliminate fire
hazards, for if fires continue as
they have we would lose that ra-
ito, which would mean an increas-
ed insurance rate to everyone. He
recommended a dormitory at the
fire station, where six men could
stay during the night to be on hand
for immediate call. Later they
would recommend a partially paid
department. He stated that the wa
ter mains in the city are not up to
standard, but that the Water,
Light & Power Commission were
considering a WPA project to
bring them up to standard. An adj
ditiona1 unit to the fire depart
ment was also recommended. This
should be a modern, up-to-date
truck, with $50 gallon pump, and
complete equipment including gas
masks, which are essential in 10
eating fires in smoke filled build
ings. He also recommended the
purchase Of at least 500 feet of
hose, preferably 1000 feet, and ad-
vised the department to conduct
periodical drills and inspections.
He stated that building ordin-
ence Is essential to any growing
town, and advised the council to
consider the adoption Of a proper
ay constructed ordinance. In that
way many hazards can be eliminat-
ed when new buildings are con-
strncted. He stated they found no
bikes around the bulk gasoline
tanks. These are essential to keep
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