Evening star., 1941-09-21

Enrolment instructions will go
out tomorrow to approximately 1000
civilians who have volunteered to
serve as emergency firemen for spe-
cial protection of the Capital
against air raids and sabotage.
District Fire Chief Stephen T.
Porter said last night this first
move will set in motion a gigantic
program of fire protection for WASH
ington, unexcelled anywhere. and
will be expected to provide
nucleus of about 600 volunteers as
the first emergency contingent.
Tomorrow's letters will direct VOL
unteers who have registered with
the Volunteer Service Committee
Of the District Defense Council to
report to fire battalion headquar-
ment and interviews.
Interview Is First Step.
Chief Porter said the men will be
interviewed by responsible fire Off
GERS who will weed out those out
side age limits and those obviously
unfit for the service they would be
called on to render" Limits from
18 to 55 years tentatively have been
set as age requirements for the
volunteers.
These station interviews and OBJ
servations will serve as a clearing
house for the initial volunteers
Chief Porter explained. Arrange
ments will be made later for reg
ular physical examinations before
training periods for them begin"
Physical examinations will not be
as rigid as those given professional
firemen, Chief Porter explained, the
intent being merely to eliminate
men with bad hearts, lungs or other
clearly disqualifying characteristics.
City Officials Assigned.
Two municipal officials were as
signed yesterday to take a training
course in civilian defense work at
the Edgewood Arsenal School, be-
ginning tomorrow. The officers are
Capt. Harold F. Harding of the Fire
Department and Capt. John H. Fow-
Ter, head of the Metropolitan Police
School.
Chief Porter said training re-
ceived by Capt Harding would be
of particular value in establishing
emergency fire protection in the
District.
Chief Porter'S action in getting
under way Immediately with organ
iZation of emergency firemen, who
will serve without pay. is in line
with a request by the District Com
missioners for the early ALLEGATION
of more than 81 100000 from the
Presidents emergency funds to
strengthen fire protection of the
Capital.
Three Stages of Training.
Under present plans training of
the volunteers will be broken down
into three stages: Preliminary, in
termediate and advance courses.
They will be drilled in engine houses
nearest their homes, with company
commanders and regular personnel
as instructors aided by men from
the Districts Fire Training School.
1T would be out of the question
to attempt mass instruction of the
volunteers at the training school,"
Chief Porter explained. I'm this
training we must have as close per-
sonal touch with the men as pos
sible."
1t is planned to divide the first
group of men between the 80 fire
engine stations where truck and
engine equipment is housed in the
same building.
The training curriculum for the
volunteers will be uniform at each
of the station schooling centers,
Chief Porter said. and new courses
will be taken up simultaneously
throughout the city. When the
training will get under way depends
largely on progress Of interviews
and examinations, he said.
FURRY Over Gas Masks.
Meanwhile, considerable furry was
created at the District Building yes
terday afternoon when it was re-
ported that Fire Department Of
ficials were requesting funds for