Evening star., 1939-06-18
Bethesda Board
Stand
On Paid Firennen.
Volunteers Employers
Made Complaints,
Statement Says

"'00S ~O'I'P'uIiItSI
: Statement Says
Breaking the silence 1t has main
tanned since moving to convert the
Bethesda fire department into q
semi mi-paid" unit on July /, the Be-
thesda Fire Board last night ex-
planned the motive behind its de-
cision to import salaried chief to
head the new setup.
The plan, announced two weeks
ago, met with storm of protest
from volunteer members who vainly
sought to have Hiram Musgrove,
their chief for several years. placed
in charge of the department instead
Of the boards choice, Lieut. A. J.
Bargagni, who is retiring from the
District of Columbia department to
accept the appointment.
1t was brought out in a formal
statement issued by the board last
night through its president, George
w. Bryan, that while it considered
Chief Musgrove an excellent fire
fighter it did not feel he has the
training or experience necessary for
the successful conduct of a semi
paid department Of this kind"
The board also revealed that 1t
created the position of captain and
fire marshal under the new plan and.
offered it to Chief Musgrove at a
salary Of $500 year, but the latter
definitely refused" to accept 1t.
400 Calls Per Year.
The statement explained that the
reorganization plan, providing for
the employment of nine paid iremen
and chief to work with the volun-
teers, was decided on after a survey
disclosed that the department
handles approximately 400 calls a
year and that Bethesda employers
were objecting to the large amount
OF time their employees lost from
their work to respond to alarms.
ut has been increasingly difacult
to secure an adequate number of
volunteers to respond to fires dur
ing the normal working hours of
the day, "the statement read. "On
a number of occasions it has been
necessary to sound the siren a
second time.
"A special committee, consisting
Of a representative from each Of the
areas represented on the Fire
Board, was set up to study the entire
question of the growth and future
activities of the fire department.
This committees survey involved
many meetings, investigation of
practices Of other fire departments
in or about Washington, and con-
sidering such items as the need
for additional fire department sta
tions at other locations, the oues-
tion Of box alarm systems. a study
OF the financial setup as we'll as
study of the question of q per-
sonnel.
Plan Worked Out.
with four or five day calls per
week, it is quite evident that some
aid should be given a purely volun-
teer force during the day hours.
Consequently. plan was worked
out which calls for a paid chief,
six paid men during the day shift,
with three paid men at night.
"Under this plan few, If any,
volunteers will be required for a
fire during the day, but the VOL
unteer organization would con-
tinue to function at night when the
question of absence from their work
would not be involved In other
words, the setup calls for a semi
paid department.
1t was explained in the statement
that 1t. Bargagni, who will receive
81 500 year and who recently pur-
chased home in the Bethesda area,
has been connected with the District
department for more than 80 years
and has specialized in educating and
training new men. both in Washing
ton and volunteers in Maryland and
Virginia.
I'm order to secure his release
from the District department" the
statement continues, "the Bethesda
Fire Board sent special subcon-
mittee to request District Commis-
sioner Allen to release him in order
that he might take the position.
Allowed to Retire.
His appointment was made pos
sible only through the courtesy of
the District in allowing him to re-
tire at this time. Commissioner
Allen stated that he was approving
the lieutenant's retirement with
deep regret. but did so only because
he felt that with 1t. Bargagni as
chief Of the Bethesda department a
closer working agreement between
the District and Bethesda might be
worked out. In case of a serious
fire in our fire area. aid from the
District would be necessary. Con-
versely, in case Of q serious fire in
Washington-a f1ve-alarm blaze
Bethesda would be called on to man
one or more OF the District fire
houses as it has done in the past
ILLS pldH Will uAHlSIl duc4udIe
protection without additional cost
to taxpayers. There will be no in
crease in the tax rate.
I'm 30 far as possible, the paid men
will be picked from the members
Of the present volunteer organiza-
ton. Any one interested In applying
for one of these positions should
make application at once, as exami-
nations will be held shortly"