Milford chronicle., 1954-08-27
SUSSEX Co. Firemen
Talk OUer Problems

The Sussex County Volunteer
Firemens Association meeting in
FrankfOrd Fire Hall this week dis
cussed at some length the situation
with reference to the hazards Gre
ated by people in automobiles fol-
lowing fire trucks to fires and
parking near the scene. The ques-
ton has received wide spread dis
cussion throughout the state and
present laws concerning the fol-
lowing of fire trucks, etc, seem
not TO lessen the number of peO-
pie who violate the statute. It was
pointed out that the naming of fire
police in each volunteer fire COM
pany had been thought to be the
answer but enforcement of the
statute has been difficult. In many
cases the tiremen named as fire pO-
lice are men needed to actively
fight fire with no time for policing
duties. The situation is one, ac-
cOrdlng to statements of many of
the firemen, which needs a tighten
ing of regulations, sitter penal
ties and cooperation from town and
state police.
DR.. Thomas c. Mulligan, state
chaplain, called attention to a re-
cent case, when last Friday night
the Georgetown Fire Company re-
sponded to a call to a home which
had been hit by lightning and fuses
on power lines in the area blown
out, leaving the whole area in
darkness. The crowd of people and
number of cars at the scene was
such according to officials of the
Delaware Power and Light Com
pany that repair men could not
reach the transformer to repair
damage and restore current to res
idents nearby.
1t was the consensus of opinion
that legislative action was prob
ably necessary and the matter was
referred to the legislative commit
tee for action and for presentation
before the annual State VIA Con-
ventiOn to be held in Milton on
September 10 and II.
Owen Davis, of Milton, gave a
brief resume Of plans for the State
Convention and also reported on a
meeting of the Sussex County Fire
Chiefs Association recently held.
The next meeting of this group
will be held in Frankford in Sep
tember. Ellis r. Kyttle, of Laurel,
told of proposed legislation being
considered by the legislative COM
mittee for presentation at the next
regular session of the State Legis-
lature. A report from the safety
committee was made by Marion
Sherwood of Delmar.
Curtis Ennis, president of the
Delaware State VIA, gave a re-
sumo of activities of the State As
sOciatiOn and of the associations in
New Castle and Kent Counties and
outlined some of the main features
of the forthcoming convention in
/ Milton and urged all companies to
attend and participate in the bus
i mess and social affairs planned
j for the convention which it is hop
ed will be the largest yet to be held
in the state. Mr. Ennis extended
an invitation to all chiefs and as
sistant chiefs to attend a meeting
of State Fire Chiefs to be held in
Ellendale on Thursday night pre-
ceding the convention. others
speaking briefly were State Sena-
/ tor Walter Handsberry and John
/ Bamberger, past state president.
( The report of Fire Recorder Will
liam e. Donovan, of Glendale,
! showed fire loss for the month of
July to be $133, 3,49735 as compared
! to $11,025OO in the month of June.
/ While the losses took a terrific
jump the number of alarms ans
wered total 65 as compared to 72
1 in June. OF the number of alarms
answered there were 13 in towns;
] 43 in rural communities; one false
alarm and eight calls to other
towns. There was insurance COW
erage of $81,79735 on the July
/ losses and a net loss of $53, 10000.
Net loss in June was $6,550.00. A
total of 977 fremen spent 7,40S man
hours in fighting fires in July COM
4 pared to 735 men and 1850 hours
in June. Dwellings, numbering 30
led in types of fires in July. There
were IA fires listed as miscella-
neOus; II woods fires, grass; 6
automobiles A mercantile, and 8
chicken houses. Laurel was the
company listed as responding to
most alarms. BridgpVillp the com
pany with the greatest loss, $102,-
( 1926. This was caused by the fire
which destroyed the garment fac
tory which was fired by lightning
! during a storm. Indian River and
/ DagsbOrO Companies were listed
as those having no fires The re-
/ port covered all of the volunteer
fire companies in Sussex County
for the month of July.
The visitors were welcomed by
Wilson o. McCabe, president of the
FTankfOrd Fire Company and the
response was given by Owen Da-
Wis, of Milton.
The invocation was given by DR.
Thomas c. Mulligan, state chap
lain. A cash token of appreciation
was presented by Curtis Ennis
state president, to the Ladies' Aux
iliary of the Frankford Company
which served dinner to the associ-
alton members.
In World War II there were
about $4,000 battle deaths OF Am.