The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-08

Three hundred and ninety-five fires were investigated during the fiscal year ending January l, says Fire Marshal Dennis J. Lahey in his annual report to the mayor. In addition, the marshal and his staff made thousands of inspections of local buildings, ordered numerous fire hazards removed, investigated a number of complaints, cooperated with state police in Investigations, and carried on 8 campaign of fire prevention.
 Most Serious Fire
 In his report the marshal cites several of the series of fires that aroused the city last winter. The most serious was the blaze in the Halpern building, from which 30 tenants fled scantily clad. The fire loss was more than $40,000. This was the fire in which several fire men were injured, among them Pri- vate Harold Parker, who is still un- der medical treatment, having only recently been released from the hos pital.
 During the year more than 4,300 building inspections were made by the marshal and his staff. Numer- ous corrections were ordered. More than 5000 business building inspec- tions were made.
 Halls, theaters, schools, churches, and other places of public assembly were examined regularly and often. Hotels, apartment houses and roon- ing houses were inspected periodi- cally.
 Marshal Lahey says in his report to the mayor:
 To the Honorable Frank Hayes, The Mayor of Waterbury.
 Sir:-
 Using the common and well known phrase of a distinguished and hon. ored American statesman, Let's look at the record" may we invite you to perrse carefully the list of statistics as compiled by the office of the Fire Marshal of Waterbury, in its annual report as now pre- scented to you, in proper compliance with the law, which reads in part that "He, (the Marshall shall an- nually report to the mayor of the activities as performed by him."
 Safety Bureau
 The office of the fire marshal, as you we'll know, constitutes the safety bureau of the fire depart Inent. It functions by reason of the statutory laws of the state. and the bylaws of the municipality. Its main duty is to prevent fire: study the conditions in and around the various buildings of the city; antici- pate various happenings regarding fire, in advance of the actual oc- currence; inspect the various heat ing units, air conditioning installa- tion, refrigeration setups, examine into the storage and sale of all in- flamables and explosives, inspect every public and private place of assembly, including the public the ater, the dance hall, the public place of worship, the lodging house, the hotel, the store, the factory, the office, and other places where peo- pie meet; all with one object in view, the safety of the general public from panic in case of fire, and the preservation of property and the people of our good city.
 The annual report of the chief, already in your hands, shows there was a reduced fire loss during the last 12 months, notwithstanding various fires in and about the vi- cinity of South Main street dur ing the early part of the Fire Year." You will recall the first of these in the Bergin bldg, at 73 South Main street in the store of the Wilco Knitting Mills, Inc, wherein a decorated Christmas win- dow started fire, the damage of which was placed at $18,1 but of