The Republican., 1941-08-21
FIREMEN'S CARNIVAL

to fill vacancy caused by death or
retirement designations are virtual
ly unlnown) are, according to an
Oakland fireman, "hot" sessions. His
future comrades of the hose wagon
have to be convinced that he is good
material" likely to work to promote
the interests of the organization, or
he can't get in. And after he is ad-
mitted Oakland keeps him up to
scratch by posting conspicuously in
the fire house a chart showing his
record for attending meetings, par
ticipating in drills, answering calls to
duty and doing his part toward keep
ing the equipment in order.
In various parts of the State the
volunteer fire companies are larger
than the one at Oakland but it is un-
likely that any eXerts a stronger in
fluence in the community. With
thirty-eight active and nine retired
members, it numbers in its ranks
representatives Of practically every
business and profession in the town.
Once a year, by invitation, it attends
church in a body. Three years ago the
town was given practical demon
stration of its strength during a cam
paign for Sunday movies in the coun-
ty seat. In the face of strong opposi-
tion the firemen, who had sponsored
the movement, carried the day by a
vote of three to one. Twenty-Five per
cent of the Sunday admissions is
turned over to the Oakland library
and fifty per cent to the Red Cross.
Mayor An Active Fireman
Headquarters of the Oakland de-
partment are located in the city hall,
next door to the office of Mayor
Lawrence NJ. Fraley, who is serving
his sixth term as chief executive of
the town and who is one of the most
active members of the department.
Its $4,000 worth of equipment in
cludes a brand new fire truck, with
the front completely inclosed for pro-
lection in sub-zero weather. The old
walnut table around which the boys
gather in the evening for cards or
cribbage is not included in the esti-
mate. Work is expected to start
shortly on a community building
which will provide new quarters for
the municipal offices and the de-
partment, as well as facilities for
public indoor recreation.
Lifesaving Equipment
Possessing one of the two inhal-
ators in the county (the other belongs |
to the gas company the Oakland |
firemen have been instrumental in
saving the lives of numerous persons
near death from drowning, suffoca-
tion by gas, or i'll with pneumonia.
Last spring this company took part
in fighting the greatest number of
grass and forest fires in the history i
of the county For three or four days
at a time the members frequently !
were away from home and business,
battling blazes with the assistance of
CCC boys. Before the CCC came into
the picture the County Commission
ers allotted small sum for the
compensation of firemen who fought I!
forest fires but this, according to
Mayor Fraley, they no longer do.
Oakland firemen injured in line of
duty are covered by insurance.
Studying Role in War
With a national emergency on
hand the volunteer fire companies |
are preparing to cooperate actively
in the defense program. Drills will be |
more numerous from now on, and
firemen will be taught how to cope
with incendiary bombs.
Garrett, like every other county in
the State, will have it's own fire
defense coordinator who will function |
under the direction of a State CO.
ordinator. After the firemen them
selves have learned to meet any de-
fense emergency that may arise in
their field they, in turn, plan to in
struct the public
In the meantime they are keeping
their equipment in order, and expand
ing their facilities as much as posi- |
BILE. 1t is safe to say that when the
present season of carnivals is over
the volunteer firemen will be better
equipped than at any time in the his
tory of the State to protect the lives
and property of rural citizens.