The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-03-19
Firennerl
Reduce Taxes
By Thousands
Save Annually Between
Three and Four Thousand
In Insurance Premiums
GOOD RECORD EARNED
IN 80 YEARS SERVICE

Since its beginning back in the
days of 1912 when its first fire err
gines were drawn by horses recruit
ed from drivers of delivery wagons
(and the first man ION the job" GO
Sl.00 reWard), J. the Libby Votun
teer Fire Department has saved tn
local taxpayers thousands OF dol
lars and has never lost man, never
had bad injury, never had hos
pital bill for pneumonia case and
has lost very little equipment. Fire
men claim their biggest loss ever
sustained was the purchase OF ST.
100 in sewer bonds of the improve
ment district in the city.
These volunteer firemen, with &
minimum membership of % and or
duty "a hours day for the last 3H
years., have contributed 1885. 4Qo
hours of service to the city and as
one man pointed out, with no time
and half for overtime"
This group of unpaid firemen-
recognized throughout the state for
its speed and efficiency, first OBJ
tanned its charter as member Of
the Montana State Firemen's As
ISOLATION in August, 1912, and from
that time on has been building for
the reputation it enjoys today,
Best fire department in the state"
Supporting this statement have
been the expressed opinions of men
prominent in fire insurance COM
panies in this area. Harry Noel
adjuster for fire insurance compan-
les for the state, is reported to have
witnessed the big Missoula fire
Candles store and clothing store
and stated that If DMissoula had
had the services of the Libby Fire
Department the damage would not
have been so extensive.
Insurance companies throughout
the state recognize this department
as superior and substantial proof
of that recognition lies in the fact
that even with no bumpers and
with but so pounds normal pressure
in city mains, this city has a base
rate for dwellings of Coo per $l00
Because this fire department will
answer calls beyond the city limits,
rural jewellers enjoy reduced fire
insurance rate also.
1t has been estimated that the eff
ficiency of the Libby Volunteer
Fire Department saves home own
ers here between three and four
thousand dollars every year in re
duced fire insurance rates, and the
~ r.
100000. To the city, the actual
yearly cost of the department for
man power services is $4,000. Val
ue of insurable risks in the city of
Libby is approximately 2t2 million
dollars. Since the present rate of
Coo per 500 for dwellings is much
lower than the former rate Of $3.50.
savings in insurance premiums to
the property owners here can read
lily be figured on the above valua
ton.
This month firemen are planning
for their Both annual Easter Monday
ball, proceeds from which are to go
into the firemen's clothing fund and
this in turn is used for cleaning
and repairing of clothing damaged
or soiled on duty, purchase of fire.
mems rega1ia, equipment and so
forth The two-mill tax levied by
the city does not 60 to these men
but is used to maintain fire fight
ing equipment. About $4,000 was
spent last winter for extinguisher
fluid alone, firemen said.
Equipment of the department is
modern and fairly extensive. Ac-
cording to national magazine, So
per cent of fire equipment through
out the states is over Is years old.
One Libby fire truck is 1884 mod
ell and the other a 1887 model Other
commendable equipment owned by
the department includes an alum
mum ladder, a specially constructed
and unusually large searchlight, in
addition to smaller ordinary ones
and two fog nozzles which form a
protective screen to permit men to
walk through smoke and fire filled
buildings. The department has two
sirens, one on the big truck and
one on the fire chiefs car. These
sirens are the only alarm signals
the city has availablve in case of
DOWpr failure