USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1877 > Part 16
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The great value of the Fire Department rests in its efficiency to promptly arrest the flames in their incipiency. It is easy to fall into the error of supposing the force of a Fire Department excessive, the machinery stands for days, and weeks, and some- times months without action, until the need of it seems to have become useless, but like a thief in the night, the great destroyer comes upon us, and without that supposed superfluous aid, we are left at the mercy of the flames ; it is the timely aid of the reserve that turns the hard fought conflict of the veterans to victory. The whole secret of our defence lies in the presence of such superior force as to supersede the necessity of its use; certainly no one institution of our city, for public safety should exist in such consciousness of power, such resources, such ample store of reserves, as the Fire Department, and we may reasonably expect the City Government to do everything that will promote the efficiency of our Department, and the comfort of its members, who justly, as we believe, merit the same; the self-sacrificing spirit of the fireman, who renders his arduous and dangerous services without hope of pecuniary reward, is one of the highest fruits of Christian civilization ; into its composition enter the highest qualities that redeem and adorn the character of man; too often, and too soon the glorious deeds of these nameless heroes are forgotten. Let it be our task, so far as we are able to lend dignity to the fireman's calling, to surround him with the most intellectual, social and moral influences; to furnish him
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with the most effectual instruments and materials for his work, and shield him by all possible safeguards from the danger to which he is exposed. The Department has promptly responded to all alarms, and worked faithfully and fearlessly whenever duty called.
This Board is pleased to notice the increased interest felt in the Department by the City Government and citizens generally. The approbation of their fellow citizens is encouraging to the firemen, and stimulates them to greater efforts to raise the standard of the Department.
In comparing the discipline of the present, with the hand- engine times, we find that the present system excel in every particular. We intend no disrespect to the noble band of men who did volunteer duty, and worked manfully on the brakes, responding with alacrity at all times to the alarm bell ; at times they were somewhat noisy on their way to a fire, and by some of the citizens were denominated "rowdy firemen." It has been very difficult to remove this stigma, but under the present excellent system, the name of "fireman " is coming to be one of honor. The strict discipline which now governs the Worcester Fire Department is an advantage to the firemen and also to the property owners of the city, and our Department not only receive credit from our own citizens, but also from visitors; this excellent state of discipline has not been brought about by keeping the men down, but by elevating them in the public regard, by causing them to appreciate its necessity, developing pride and emulation in the discharge of their duty.
In many cases the firemen have to save life as well as property, and their attention being divided, it is necessary that they should be cool headed and have good judgment, qualities which this Board believe that our firemen possess.
With a determination to keep the Department up to its present high standard, care and attention has been given in the admission of new members, that all who enter the Department are properly qualified, feel the importance of the position, and are actuated by a desire to rightfully perform their duties. This policy will commend itself to your judgment and doubtless
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meet your approval, as the discipline necessary for carrying out the work cannot be maintained without good men.
It is gratifying to the Board of Engineers to know that the citizens fully appreciate the value of the Fire Department, although at times there is a tendency to abate their interest when there are but few fires, still our firemen are ever ready to respond to the alarm, and risk their lives if necessary in protect- ing your property from destruction. Visitors from abroad speak in the highest terms of the management of the Depart- ment, giving it as their opinion, that it loses nothing in compar- ison with other Departments. We believe that our citizens have confidence, and feel secure in having a Fire Department upon which they can rely in any emergency, and this fact is very gratifying to the members.
It is not an uncommon thing for persons who have never done fire duty to criticise ·the management of fires ; but in all such cases their reasoning falls to the ground, in consequence of their not having a full understanding of the subject. Some even undertake to advise the Engineers where to place streams, but the Department being fully competent to manage fires, such advice is of course unheeded. In maintaining good discipline, firemen receive orders from their officers only, and these they obey without hesitation.
An inspection of the Department was had Oct. 17th, by the Board of Engineers, members of the City Government, and Insurance officers. The result was highly satisfactory, showing a good state of efficiency, and we know that our firemen in all qualities that make up a Department, are not excelled by any in the State.
THE WORCESTER PROTECTIVE DEPARTMENT.
It seems not out of place here to mention the important work of this Department ; it is managed and paid for mostly by the Insurance Companies, and is a very important auxiliary in case of property exposed to damage by fire, water or smoke. The record of the Company constantly employed in this service is a highly creditable one. Their wagon goes to every fire, and the men are conspicuous in spreading their water proof covers over
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whatever would be injured by fire or smoke. The Board desire that a good feeling may always exist between the Patrol Depart- ment and the Fire Department, and that there shall be a cordial co-operation in the work of saving property from destruction.
This branch of the service have rendered substantial aid, and have been of great value to the Department during the past year. They are highly appreciated by the public, especially those that have no insurance ; they have been the means of saving much property from fire and smoke, they also superintend the removal of goods and keep improper people off the ground, whether they come for curiosity or thieving purposes. After they have located the fire, they endeavor to extinguish it, and if it gets beyond their control, they remove and cover goods to prevent damage by water, often saving much property in an uninjured condition. When the fire is in the upper part of a building the prompt action of the Fire Patrol in covering goods, enables them in many cases to be left in the building and thus save them from damage usually incurred from hasty removal. They can in many cases detect the origin of a fire, whether from accident or design. The Fire Patrol undoubtedly save more for the Insurance Companies than the expense of maintaining the organization, and acting in conjunction with the Fire Department, fill an important place, one that could not well be dispensed with.
The Board of Engineers fully appreciate the manner in which they have performed their important duties during the year, rendering, as they have, faithful service as Fire Police in addi- tion to that mentioned above; they have responded with promptness to every call, and can always be relied upon when duty calls. Your Honorable Body and our citizens can see the importance of maintaining an efficient Fire Patrol.
LADDERS AND FIRE ESCAPES.
Much interest has been felt in regard to the Hook and Ladder Companies, who constitute an important portion of the Department. Owing to the growth of our city it has become necessary in the central portion to erect buildings of five or six
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stories high, and the subject of having proper ladder and fire escapes has assumed still greater importance and been fully discussed. It is a singular fact, that notwithstanding the many useful improvements introduced in fire apparatus, there appeared no decided advance in the invention of apparatus, with or without the use of ladders, to save life, until the appearance of Joseph S. Smith's Bangor Extension, which we consider the best fire ladder yet brought before the public, and it is being adopted by nearly all Fire Departments in the country.
Scarcely a week passes that there does not come to us the record of one or more lives lost in consequence of there being no means, or rather apparatus, at the command of the firemen, to reach those, who on the verge of death, are vainly stretching forth their hands and screaming from the midst of the flames for help. Mr. T. C. Rice, of this city, has invented a simple and reliable fire escape; it can be adjusted in a few seconds time ; the rapidity of descent is under the most perfect control of the operator ; this escape weighs only four pounds; the compactness and cost brings it within the reach of all. The public has a right to insist that some such simple fire escape shall be required by law to be introduced into all hotels, manufactories, and other large buildings having many inmates. There may be some other device better than that to which I call your attention, but whichever is the best, the adoption of it ought to be immediately forced upon the authorities of cities, by public sentiment, before more valuable lives are sacrificed. It seems almost as though the fearful lessons which are given day after day, and year after year, printed in the book of life in lurid letters, its pages illustrated with the ghastly or charred bodies of those near and dear to some, if not to us, the ruined homes and fortunes, and devastated cities and villages, were opened before eyes that are sightless, and that the notes of warning fall upon ears that are deaf. Let us strive even more faithfully in future to remedy the evils we know of, and in every possible way render more efficient and capable " our call- ing," at once the most humane of all man's efforts. In many instances persons are employed in the upper stories, and no
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means of escape provided in case of fire except by stairways, oftentimes constructed of the most combustible materials.
The Board of Engineers have repeatedly called the attention of the City Government to this reckless disregard of human life, asking for the passage of an ordinance compelling the owners of hotels, factories and other high buildings, to adopt some one of the best known methods by which the occupants can escape. The outside of all such buildings should be provided with permanent fire escapes, as they not only serve as life pre- servers, but are a great convenience and assistance to firemen in case of fire ; the Balcony fire escape is, we think, the best known fire escape. One has been erected in the building of the Bay State Shoe shop on Austin street the past year, that is a credit to the managers of that Company, and the same should be adopted in all the large buildings in the city. There have been many sad instances of the loss of many valuable lives attributable to this cause in other cities the past year, and it behooves us to be thoroughly prepared for any emergency that may arrive. We would respectfully ask the attention of your honorable body, and trust you will take such action as will most effectually accomplish the object desired.
Within a year or two, attempts have been made to produce ladders, which by splicing and connecting in various ways, can be made to reach the upper stories, but in many cases the so-called improvements have been fraught with danger to the lives and limbs of firemen. In many of the cities where they have been introduced, firemen have been killed or injured, and all have been liable to some objections; still the subject is of the utmost importance, and should be thoroughly investigated until a conclusion is reached, and when these objections are overcome, and ladders produced that can be handled as readily as the Bangor Extension ladder, they should be promptly intro- duced into all departments. At the same time the subject of permanent fire escapes should not be overlooked, as the saving of life is of more importance than that of property, and the lives of our firemen should be made as secure as possible by the adoption of the best methods that human ingenuity can devise. They are our most faithful public servants, and their interests should not in any way be overlooked or neglected. .
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CHEMICAL ENGINE.
Our Chemical Engine has worked to the satisfaction of the Board of Engineers during the past year. In many instances when a fire has made but little headway the prompt action of the Extinguisher has been the means of preventing the destruc- tion of property by water, as in many cases of small fires the damage by water is greater than by fire; but in case the fire spreads, water cannot be dispensed with. If the Chemical engine could be located at a more central point it would be made still more available in taking care of small fires, but if it remains where it is, it may be advisable to add another to the Depart- ment, located centrally, at some future time.
No Fire Department is complete without one or more Chemi- cal engines, and the one now in use has proved of great value, answering as it does, all alarms. When the fire is among tar, oil or other liquids, the application of the Extinguisher is indis- pensible, as water is then of no service. We would recommend that some small Extinguishers be attached to our Hook and Ladder carriages, as many times they would prove valuable.
Thousands of portable extinguishers are provided by mill owners, and owners of buildings, for their self-protection, which simply amount to nothing. Corporations boast of their fire protection, and in many instances secure a reduction of insurance premiums by having them, but a fire occurs by day or night, the Extinguisher is seized by some man with not sufficient self-possession to use it, in nine cases out of ten it will be strapped on wrong side up, and in the excitement he aban- dons the work, and the only resource then, is to call the Fire Department, who in a prompt and systematic manner puts out the fire, though many times not without serious loss because of the delay. There is but one way to make the Extinguisher a success, and that is to have them cared for and operated by trained and experienced firemen, who know when and how to use them, men who are familiar with fire duty, and willing to brave its dangers. If the money that is expended for fire extinguishers and worthless fire appliances was used for the better equipment of city Fire Departments, purchasing for
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them the best apparatus and employing the best men, we think our protection would be certainly more complete and secure.
FIRES AND INSURANCE.
The first question that arises after a fire, is in regard to the insurance ; in many cases it is found that the insurance far exceeds the value of the property destroyed. This may be partly accounted for by the great depreciation of real estate as well as personal property. There are also other reasons, one of which is that insurance agents in order to obtain policies upon property and please their patrons, give out new policies and continue old ones in amount far beyond the real or saleable value of the property insured. This places a great temptation in the way of owners to sell out to the insurance companies, whereby they can realize more money than in any other way, oftentimes endangering other buildings that are not over-insured. The insurance companies should see that this abuse is not continued, as it encourages dishonesty. They should thoroughly investigate all cases where there is the least reason to suspect that the fire was of incendiary origin. Over-insurance causes more than half of the incendiary fires, and is an evil which should be abated.
Incendiarism is one of the most difficult crimes to detect. No matter how clearly suspicion may point to the offending party, the law requires actual evidence of the commission of the crime. It has been fully demonstrated in cities where a special officer, whose duty it is to investigate the cause of all fires, that the fact that such an inquiry will be made, deters many from the commission of the crime, who would otherwise do so. And we think it would be advisable in this city, to have officers appointed to investigate the cause of every fire. To institute effective prevention of fires, or to do so at least as nearly as possible, a thorough investigation of the causes which origi- nated them, cannot be avoided.
A spark dropped from a pipe or cigar may cause a conflagra- tion which will reduce half a city to ashes. A match unseen falls on the floor of a mill crowded with operatives; who would
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dream that the morning would dawn upon a blackened, smok- ing ruin, the owners of the property made bankrupt, and hundreds of workmen thrown out of work, from such an insignificant cause. Still the warnings are but little heeded, "an accident," and the question is ended.
Now, an accident is that which is brought about or occurs through means of circumstances which human foresight or caution could not prevent, Many fires are caused by placing ashes in wood receptacles, by leaving matches where rats and mice get at them, and by carelessness in the use of oily rags, which frequently causes spontaneous combustion, of the laws gov- erning which many people are ignorant. A large portion of fires being caused by negligence or design, there is no good reason why the number may not be reduced. Citizens should use greater care to prevent them, as they have no right to endanger the lives and property of their neighbors as well as their own. Gross carelessness is, in its results, almost as bad as arson, and cannot be too severely censured. The proper officers of insur- ance companies shonld instruct their agents to carefully observe the two-thirds rule, which would effectually remove the evil of over-insurance. If all will combine in their efforts to prevent fires, property owners will receive the benefit, by reduced rates of insurance. The prompt action of the Fire Department in extinguishing fires has already accomplished much in that direction, but they need the hearty co-operation of the citizens to complete the work.
It is impossible to make men honest, but a premium should not be offered for dishonesty, and the man who would be guilty of the criminal act of firing his own buildings should not be allowed to escape punishment. We make these suggestions for the benefit of property owners, and trust they will receive kind attention. The successful manner in which our firemen have combatted fires, is sufficient evidence that they are fully compe- tent to act in any emergency that is likely to arise. The record of the past year in the number of fires, and losses, is considera- ble less than the year previous, and will compare favorably with the losses of former years. During the past year there have been thirty-six bell alarms, which is five less than the previous
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year, and the losses are $20,000 less. For a complete and accurate statement of losses by fire and the amount of insur- ance, we refer you to the tabular record under the head of " Fires and Alarms."
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
The working of the Fire Alarm Telegraph has been very successful the past year. It has become an indispensible branch of the Fire Department, and must of necessity be kept in good condition, so that it may be at all times perfectly reliable. Its care and management is very properly regarded as of the greatest importance.
The total length of wire for the transmission of alarms is twenty-four miles. There are forty-two fire alarm stations, thirteen engine house gongs, eight engineer's gongs, two tap- pers, four bell strikers, two hundred and thirty-six battery cups, and all the necessary magnetic implements required for a complete performance of the work. The labor required of the superintendent, Mr. Wm. Brophy, is a most important one, for to him is confided the responsibility of keeping it in working order at all times .. When by accident a wire is broken, he is obliged to seek and find the break, whether it occurs by day or night, in sunshine or in storm, and make the necessary repairs. The performance of this duty is attended with great danger in climbing upon house-tops to correct the trouble. His calling is one of great responsibility and his compensation should not be a stinted one. In dealing with a fire, the element of time is the most important factor in the matter of its extinguishment. A fire that a single pail of water would put out, if left to itself for ten or fifteen minutes, may result in a conflagration that would defy the best fire department in the world to extinguish. By means of the telegraph the firemen are informed of the existence of a fire the instant it is discovered, and the time occupied by them in reaching the scene is only measured by the distance they have to travel.' Property owners as well as the firemen have seen and fully appreciate the many advantages of the fire alarm. By its use that portion of the Department
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nearest to the station from which the alarm is given is called out, after which if the fire obtains such headway that more assistance is required, another alarm is given and additional ap- paratus summoned. The Fire Alarm places the whole. Depart- ment subject to the call of the Engineers, and at the same time notifies the citizens of the locality of the fire, so they know in- stantly whether their own dwellings are in danger. By the prompt action of this system of giving alarm, thousands of dol- lars worth of property have been saved. Without this invention, a bountiful supply of water could not, in many instances, be made available in season to prevent a disastrous conflagration. Although the blowing of whistles is annoying to some of our citizens, still the advantages gained in calling out the firemen who do not reside within hearing of the alarm bells, overbalance the objections, and render it necessary to continue to use them, for without it we should be compelled to add to our bell strik- ing facilities.
It is of the utmost importance to ring in an alarm from the station nearest the fire ; we will suppose a fire to break out on Front Street, and some person on Orange Street should first discover it, and go to Station No. 6 and ring in the alarm; it would bring a different class of apparatus, not so well adapted for the service required, as Station 36, Front Street. It is natural for persons not familiar with our system to sometimes pull the wrong box, supposing they are right, nevertheless it is of the utmost importance to the movements of the Department, that the box nearest the fire should be used.
During the past season the Engineer's office has been placed in direct telegraphic communication with all the houses of the Department in which permanent men are employed, viz : Steamer No. 3, on School Street, Babcock Extinguisher, on John Street, Hose No. 6, on Pleasant St., Steamer No. 2, on Beacon St., and Hose No. 7, on Lamartine St. The wire also passes the houses of Hose No. 4, on Exchange St., and Hook and Ladder No. 2, on Thomas St., both of which can be placed in the circuit readily, should it become necessary to do so. The advantages of this business, or talking circuit, as we call it, are so many that it is quite proper to mention a few of them.
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Before its construction daily visits were made to the various houses, by the Chief, and all necessary supplies furnished, and instructions and orders given as to the performance of their duties. This is still his practice, yet this was not sufficient to meet all the exigencies that may arise; for instance, in going to a fire some portion of the apparatus may be broken and must be attended to at once. It is frequently the case that there are several cases of this kind to be attended to at the same time. In such cases the only course for the driver was to close the house and go from place to place till he found the Chief and reported the facts to him. Now it can be seen at a glance that while this man is thus engaged, the locality in which the house is situated, to which he is attached, is practically without protection during his absence. This has been the cause of serious apprehension on the part of the Board, who have felt the need of some more direct and rapid communication between the head of the Department and his surbordinates. This
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