The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-02-23
Underwriters
Recommend
New Unit
Urge Fire Defenses
Of City Be Improved
Very Soon
MAINTAIN CLASS
Suggest Building
And Fire Prevention
Ordinances


tiers pertaining to fire protection
in Sank Centre, were informed that
a letter from the Fire Underwrit-
ers Inspection Bureau indicated q
weakness along that line, and the
letter urged that no hesitancy
should be shown in making i'm
provements Of a constructive ma
ture in the city's fire defenses.
Our city is rated under the Class
6 basis which Is the same as that
used in towns or cities having ex-
ceptionally good waterworks sys-
TENS, good fire department equip
ment of adequate capacity for the
handling Of fires of conflagration
proportions and also having full
paid firemen on duty at the fire
station at all times. The bureau in
addition urged the adoption of a
good set Of ordinances dealing with
building construction and fire pre-
vention. A model ordinance was
sent as guide.
It was suggested that improve
merts in fire defense be made for
the purpose Of retaining the pres
ent Class 8, and present insurance
rates, rather than with the thought
Of obtaining a more favorable class
ification.
Installation of additional equip
ment in the fire department is very
important, inasmuch as you now
have only two bumpers In the de-
partment, one of which Is really
too small to be Of much actual
value in fighting fires which have
gained any appreciable Roadway,
said the report. The bureau recon-
mended the addition of another
pumper having a capacity Of $50
gallons per minute. (This part of
the Recommendation has been ad-
hered to by the purchase Of new
pumper by the fire department.
Although the new pumper is of
500 gallon variety, its centrifugal
force pump will have a capacity
of 800 gallons per minute, said the
manufacturer. This truck must
meet the requirements Of the I'm
derwriters by test upon its arrival
Further recommendation asks
that the small pumper be retained
and used for small fires and as a
general utility truck at the larger
fires. This small equipment also
could be used for country fires
leaving at least two Of the required
bumpers within the corporate lin
its at all times. The limited equip
ment which we now have, said the
report, should not be permitted to
leave the corporate limits at any
time.
The report closed advising i'm
mediate action In installing addi-
tional equipment in the department,
and making such other improve
ments in the fire defense as neces-
sary. viz; good building code and
fire prevention ordinances. This
report has been submitted to a COM
naittee for study. The report also
suggests sleeping quarters for six
firemen at the fire room.
Another important matter before
the Planning Board was the sug-
gestion offered by the Sank Centre
Safety Council pertaining to addi-
tional safety measures for the
Great Northern Railway crossing
on Third Street. It has been sug-
gested that two floodlights be in
stalled at that spot, in such man
ner and Of such power as to make
plainly visible a freight train on
the tracks at all times. The board
voted to recommend this additional
safety measure to the City Coun-
Gil. Another recommendation was
made at the request Of the Rotary
Club, suggesting that the City
Council prepare and ask for special
legislation from the state legisla-
ture for the issuance Of debenture
bonds for the purpose Of financing
a hospital in the city.