Evening star., 1945-01-21
New Fire Alarm
Backers Will
Garry On Fight
Strong Opposition
To Plan Claimed in
Silver Spring Area

Although resolution calling for
establishment of central fire alarm
headquarters was defeated at a
meeting of the Montgomery County
Association of Volunteer Firemen
Thursday night, Joseph A. Clam
matteo, chief of the Glen Echo VOL
i'nteer Fire Department and chair
man OF the committee proposing the
alarm system, announced last night
that the committee will continue to
tight for the project.
The Bethesda Fire Board added
its approval to the proposal at its
annual meeting last week.
On the other side of the fence,
George L. Moore, president of the
Silver Spring Fire Department,
which is objecting to the proposal,
said representatives of virtually
every civic association in the Silver
Spring area have assured him they
will protest the plan and have ex-
pressed their approval of the present
setup of the Silver Spring depart
ment.
Warns of Tax Burden.
Mr.. Moore said plan like that
suggested by the committee has
been in operation in the eastern
suburban area for some time. I'VE
have proposed" he said, that a
similar central fire board be placed
in one of the engine houses in the
western suburban area of the coun-
nv ond ha,o of7oro5 tho ,,co IF n,,r
radio facilities"
This plan would provide the same
protection and the cost would be
negligible, he asserted. If the CEN
tral alarm system is established,
he warned, property owners in met
ropolitan Montgomery County will
have an additional tax burden vary
ing from to cents per s100 of
assessed valuation.
Eastern suburban residents al
ready have adequate fire protec-
ton, he declared, and should not be
asked to assume additional taxes.
Plan Lacks Coordination.
In a statement taking issue with
the minority report submitted by
Chief Charles v. A. Smoot of the
Silver Spring Volunteer Fire De-
partment at Thursday nights meet
ing, Mr.. Giammatee said the Sug-
gestion that a switchboard similar
to that at Silver Spring be installed
In the western area of the county
will not provide fully co-ordinated'
central control.
Such an arrangement he de-
clared, would be house divided
without proper concentration of
adequate personnel and would not
provide the high standards desired" +"
The fire alarm facilities of Sill
yer Spring are quite inadequate to
handle all of the fire calls of the
lower Montgomery County area. he
said. adding that it does not even
meet standard minimum require
ments for its present load
He charged the board is under
manned, the quarters are cramped
and are located Immediately ad-
jacent to large garage which must
be considered potential fire haZ-
ard.
Offers to Explain Benefits.
att would seem that the Silver
Spring Volunteer Fire Department
is less interested in the welfare of
the fire system as a whole than
they are in preserving their own
small system for the sake of their
personal pride in it," Chief Clam
matteo said
Citizens associations considering
the subject of a centralized fire
alarm system were asked by Chief
Giammatteo to communicate with
him so that he can arrange for
speakers to explain its benefits.
The resolution adopted by the
Bethesda Fire Board favors "the
establishment, maintenance and
operation of a central alarm sys-
tenn for the fire services of Mont
gomery County, or any section or
sections thereof. ="