The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-02-13
Bv PHIL WRIGHT

Is Wilmington fire fighting
equipment and total facilities suffi-
cient to meet and successfully com
bat potential fire disaster?
The question has arisen among
the public with recent indications
that additional equipment may be
purchased. Some city officials indi.
cate that the present facilities and
those to be purchased soon will be
adequate for Wilmington's needs,
while others say that the facilities
are meager should a. fire with
major potentialities get started in
the city.
Five Hill Stations
| Serving the city now are five hill
stations with a total OF five triple
combination engines, with pumping
capacity of $50 gallons each. In ad-
dit.on there is one 600 gallon ca.
pacity engine with triple combina-
ton.
Of the $50 gallon units. four are
of the American La France type
and one is the Seagrave type which
has a uuadruple combination. The
600 gallon capacity pumping unit
is a Mack model with triple com
bination.
Triple Units
The triple combination units car
ry hose, bumpers and boosters
The quadruple model has in add
ton to these facilities, the ladder
One of these was purchased b,
the department in 1917, another il
1927, one in 1923, one in 1885. ant
the Seagrave quadruple combina
ton unit in 1899. One of the Ameri
can LaFrance models was deliv
cred in 1913.
The aerial truck which carrie
ladders for use in case of fire
which threaten the taller build
ings, is an American La Franc
model. 1t was purchased by tn
city in 1916 and has been in con
tinuous service since.
The truck was remode1ed com
pletely in 1899 when a new tracto
was bought and put into use and
new bed and new ladders Wer
also installed.
Bigger Hull
The fire boat Atlantic will,
present plans materialize, get
, new and bigger hull and othe
vital new parts to equip her wit
> sufficient properties to battle fire
which occur in shipping and thos
: convenient to the waterfront.
The boat 50-footer, IA feet wild
with five foot draft now has
$50 kermath propelling mo
tor. Although her hull was re
paired in December 1915 and tn
engine and. equipment completed.
! checked with any needed repair
being made at that time, official
] say that a larger and faster boa
would prove more satisfactory ant
guarantee more efficient service il
case of need.
5 New Trend
The purchase of a new fire boat
which is being negotiated now is ;
move which is indicative of thu
trend in the department. The ide;
seems to be that the department
should have sufficient facilities un
der any circumstances, not neces
sarily that equipment on hand il
not in good shape, or that sur
plus must be purchased.
Fire Chief J. Ludie Groom sale
the two Dodge auxiliary engines
which the department bought from
the Army in 1914 were bought il
anticipation of annexation of terri
tory to Wilmington proper through
the city limits extension plan
which plan was then in its EN-
bryoic stages. Eve anticipated
the additional service we would b.
called upon to render, and pre-
pared for them" he said.
Civilian Skip Pump
The trucks which are auxiliar,
units with a 500-gallon pumping
capacity have civilian skip pum]
mounted on each chassis and carr,
1000 feet Of tWo-inch hose each
These units are triple combination
one carrying 235 gallons Of fire
flghting fluid while the other car
ries 225 gallons.
In addition to these there is al
auxiliary International truck whicl
carries $50 gallons Of water and
pumping unit with a 30-gallo
capacity, plus 12-foot roof lad
der. This unit Is used for rnino
tires, Chief Groom explained.
Bought From Army
I Another auxiliary unit Is hos
wagon which Is mounted on