The midland journal., 1940-08-23
Volunteer Firemen Meet
Discuss Difficulties Caused by
Sight Seeing Motorists
And Others


For several years the volunteer
Fire Companies in Cecil and Har-
ford Counties have been doing their
work under difficulties and condi-
tions which don't necessarily have TO
exist. Some of the conditions are the
blame of the companies, entirely IN
that. they have not cooperated to the
full extent with neighboring COM
panies, but in many cases they are
due to outsiders and unauthorized
persons who think they are doing
right, but actually they are hinder
ing the company from doing their
best work.
Conditions were finally brought
to a head due to several happenings
which have occurred at recent fires
in Cecil County, and a meeting was
called of the Chiefs and their assls-
tants and held in the Rising sun
Firemans Hall, on Thursday even
ing, August 15, 1910.
The meeting was called to order
with the Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs
of the following companies present:
North East Fire Department, or
North East; Singerly Fire Company,
of Elkton; Water Witch Fire Com
pany, of Port Deposit; Community
Fire Company, of Perryville; Sus-
uuehanna Hose Company, OF Havre
de Grace. and the Community Fire
Company, of Rising Sun. The main
purpose of the meeting was to ar
range a code between the companies
that will serve to avoid confusion,
misunderstanding and false alarms
Time after time neighboring COM
panies have been called to flres by
unauthorized persons, where the
companies were not needed in any
way. Since one company has estl-
mated it costs them ST. every time
it answers a call, they certainly do
not want to go rushing around over
the country to fires whore they are
not needed. After considerable dis
cussion it was decided to invite the
chiefs and assistants of all the COM
panies in Cecil and Hartford coun-
ties, together with Newark, De1a-
ware, and Oxford, Pennsylvania, and
include them in the code. A date
was set for the next meeting, and it
will be held in the Perryville Fire
Hall.
Aside from this the public can
also do their part in aiding the fire
companies by observing few simple
and elementary rules. First, in case
of fire, call the company nearest the
scene of the fire, and they, in turn
will upon arrival, call for assistance
from other companies if they deem
it necessary. When calling in an
alarm do not under any condition
call more than your nearest COM
pany.
Further, at the scene of the fire,
stand well out of the zone of activity
and let the firemen do their work
unhindered and without unnecessary
confusion. On entering narrow roads
or lanes be mindful of the fact that
there may be othef appartus rush
ing to the scene of the fire and that
it can not get there if the road is
blocked by parked automobiles. So,
when parking near fire be sure
your auto is well out of the way of
equipment coming to the fire--a few
minutes lost needlessly might well
mean the difference between victory
and defeat for the firemen.
Inhalators are possessed by the
following companies: Elkton, North
East, Perryville, Port Deposit and
Havre de Grace. When calling for
assistance for drowning or suffo-
eating person you will save time and
avoid confusion by calling the COM
pany nearest the victim.
By observing these few simple
rules the public will be doing their
share in aiding the firemen, and re-
member that in aiding them you will
be helping your self because some
day it may be your home, or barn,
or building the firemen will be call
ed to save.