Evening star., 1942-08-20
(Fitth OF a Series.)
BY NORMAN A. KAHL.

BY NORMAN A. KAHL.
1t. A. E. Bigos was hidden behind
the pumper at Engine Co. No. /,
earnestly explaining the use Of a
distributor in fighting fires at the
bottom of shaft. His only stu
dent was Walter Herndon, 2141 H
street NV, filling station attend
ant. Mr.. Herndon had joined the
current class late and had missed
more than dozen hours of prelim-
mary training. 1t. Bigos might
have asked Mr.. Herndon to wait
until the beginning of new class.
Or the lieutenant might have let
him finish the course with a view
toward catching up on the first
part Of 1t during later class.
He chose instead to give the
young man individual training, so
he could catch up with his class
and finish his training with the
others.
1t. Bigos' attitude is exemplary OF
q spirit that exists among all officers
of the Fire Department in connec-
ton with the auxiliaries. 1t was
impaired to them in the first place
by Chief Engineer S. T. Porter and
Capt. Carlisle Peterson, executive
officer of the department. The
training given the men is thorough
and rigid as it must be. Fire-flght-
ing isn't a dilettante afair. But
the firm and healthy relationship
that has developed between the
regular officers and men and the
auxiliaries is gratifying.
Helpfulness Is Keynote.
Cooperation and helpfulness is
the KEYNOTE of tfa officers in deal
ing with the auxiliaries. Not a
single complaint is heard against
any of the regulars. Not one OF
them has ever been charged with
being short tempered or unk1nd
toward an auxiliary.
Alexander Drain, who lives at IL
Buchanan street NE, the manager
of a wholesale plumbing and heat
ing supplies firm by day and an
auxiliary fireman on THURSDAY
nights and on Saturdays and Sun
DAYS, has this to say:
'The regulars deserve a lot more
credit than we fellows. After all,
we're just putting In our time be-
cause we want to protect our homes
or maybe just because it's fun. But
for the officers it means just that
much more hard work"
Out at 1888 Park road NV, where
Engine Co. No. II and Truck CO.
No. are housed, officers have
trained a contingent of colored aux
iliaries. The whole e-hearted words
of praise that the colored auxiliarles
heap on the officers and men OF
the regular department are evil
dence of the success of the pro-
gram at this station.
Shows His Gratitude.
One ofthe auxiliaries, an cleo
trical contractor, was SO impressed
bv the attitude of the officers that
he felt inpelled to do something in
gratitude for the training he had
received. He finally informed Capt.
Peterson that he was building
complicated electric signal map
which the captain could hang in his
office and which would indicate the
disposition of fire apparatus in all
parts of the city at all times.
The auxiliaries, too, have elm
mated from their minds few false
notions about pinochle- playing fire.
men. They realize now there isn't
much time for cribbage and back
CANNON in the modern firemans
life. There's a lot of hard work to
be done and endless studying-even
for the veterans.
All the officers of the department
have orders not TO expose the aux
iliaries to any unnecessary dangers.
They are doing their best to COM
ply, but even the officers can't
always stop an auxiliary from going
into burning building.
Until August 6 there were no pro-
visions to compensate auXiliaries for
injuries they might have sustained
while in training or on duty. Ar
rangements had been made for i'm
mediate disqualification and treat
ment at Gallinger Hospital, but
that's as far as it went. Under the
terms of the blackout law, however
enacted on August 6, fremen or
other civilian defenders injured in
the line of duty may be compen-
sated at the discretion of the Com
missioners. A fund of 100000 has
been set aside for this purpose.
Fortunately, no medical attention
hoe haen naeHaH It's aStNni Sn -
ingly good record, considering that
1000 men have already gone through
the mill and hundreds of them are
running TO fires every week.
There's another reason why the
auxiliaries have been so successful
in their civilian defense chores
their wives. Dozens of the men
volunteer the information that with
out the willing cooperation of their
wives, they wouldn't be around
During the training period, it means
several nights away from home
every week. And when that's over
most of the men spend at least one
night a week-usually from O'Clock
TO midnight-on duty at their fire.
house.
Their wives, they say, have been
marvellous about these nights away
from home. They. too, understand
that it's necessary Job that some