USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1886 > Part 4
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ENGINEERS.
The engineers shall have full control of the engine, bunk, and meeting-rooms and basements, and shall report to the Chief of Department at once the name of any member of the department, or other person, guilty of any disorderly conduct, or violation of the Rules and Regulations ; also any damage which their apparatus, or any part of it, their houses, or furniture, may have sustained. They shall keep an account of all supplies that come to the station, and promptly
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report when materials are required for use; keep their engines at all times in condition for immediate service. Delays or accidents resulting from neglect will be sufficient cause for suspension or discharge. They shall instruct their stokers in the management of the engines. The use of all patent preparations for cleaning the metal is strictly pro- hibited. All material for polishing will be furnished from headquarters. Keep the safety valve set at eighty pounds, and run the engines according to the line of hose ; a hundred pounds will be carried only when working through an extra long line, or two lines of, say five hundred feet each. Water- pressure will never exceed a hundred pounds, except on special order from the Chief or Assistant Chief of Depart- ment.
The following whistle-signals will be made use of in this department until further orders :
One whistle, signals pipemen to look out for water.
Two whistles, signal for burst hose.
Three whistles, signal for coal.
Two short and one long whistle, signal, "Make up."
Engineers will be on duty at all times. No member shall shut off the water, or in any manner move the machinery attached to the engine, except at request of the engineer.
When the services of the engine are not required, draw the fire, always leaving sufficient quantity for rekindling in case of another aların while returning. All fuel partially consumed shall be preserved, and not be left burning in the streets.
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DRIVERS.
Drivers permanently employed shall be on duty at all times. They shall be held personally responsible for their stables and for the care and management of their horses. They must not drive them faster than is consistent with the safety of the public and of the apparatus of the department. They will be held responsible for any damage caused by them, or carelessness displayed in conveying their apparatus to or from fires. Racing to or from fires will not be allowed under any circumstances. If the apparatus of two or more companies shall proceed to or from a fire on the same street they shall do so in single file. Returning from fires, they shall drive at a moderate rate of speed. On arriving at fires, the horses shall be blanketed, and kept moving, if possible, and upon returning to the house, if wet by perspira- tion, they must be immediately rubbed dry. These instructions will also apply to drivers of hose-carriages and tenders.
EXERCISE HOURS.
The horses used exclusively by this department will be exercised daily, in accordance with the following order :-- IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, April 21, 1884.
Ordered :
That on and after May 1, 1884, the several horses permanently employed in the Fire Department shall be exercised daily (Sundays excepted), and in the following streets, except when otherwise ordered by the Chief of Department :-
No. 1 Engine-Washington to Church, to Eldredge, to Vernon, to Park streets.
No. 2 Engine-Washington to Elm, to Webster, to Waltham, to Chestnut, to Margin streets.
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No. 3 Engine -- Willow to Beacon, to Crescent avenue, to Pleasant, to Centre, to Willow streets.
No. 1 Truck )
No. 4 Hose Washington, Parsons to Central avenue.
Exercise hours to be regulated by Chief of Department, and not to exceed one hour nor less than one-half hour. The rules governing inclement weather and holidays will remain in force. Any employee failing to conform the above order shall be subject to suspension.
H. L. BIXBY, Chief of Department. Clerk.
I. F. KINGSBURY,
When the horses have performed no duty within the twenty-four hours next preceding. The horses will not be exercised on public holidays, and never speed them faster than a slow trot.
" RIGHT OF WAY WHEN PROCEEDING TO FIRES," AS ACCORDED BY LAW.
[Chap. 37, Acts 1874.]
An Act to Punish the Wilful Obstruction of Fire Engines, etc.
Whoever wilfully and maliciously obstructs, or retards, the pass- age of any engine, or other apparatus of any Fire Department, while going to a fire, through any street, lane, alley, or other way, shall be punished by imprisonment in the House of Correction not exceeding three months, or by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars. [Approved February 28, 1874.
All drivers of this department will govern themselves by the above law, and use the utmost discretion at all times to avoid accidents. Hose carriages, in response to alarms of fire, will follow the engines to which they belong. Call- drivers of hose carriages will be required to sleep in their respective stations.
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STOKERS.
The stokers shall respond promptly to all alarms, and, when in quarters, they will assist in hitching up. When on duty at fires, they shall be under the direction of their respective engineers, who shall require their whole and undivided attention. On return from fires, they shall remain on duty until relieved by their engineers. They will be required to sleep in their respective stations.
FOREMEN.
It shall be the duty of the foremen of all companies where permanent men are not employed to see that the apparatus committed to their care, and the several stations in which the same are deposited, and all things in or belonging to the same, are kept neat and clean, and in order for imme- diate use ; to see that the snow is cleared from the sidewalks and driveways connected with the stations under their charge.
FINES.
Foremen of companies will see that the following fines for non-attendance are rigidly enforced:
For absence from tires and alarms. $1 00
For absence from regular and special meetings 50
ASSISTANT FOREMEN.
The assistant foreman shall, in the absence of the fore- man, perform all the duties and exercise the same authority as the foreman.
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MEMBERS.
The members of the several companies shall, upon an alarm of fire from the section of the city to which they are assigned for duty, proceed promptly to the place of the fire in an orderly manner, report to the foreman, and perform any duty that may be required of them. They shall remain on duty until relieved by orders, which shall be given only by the officer in command. If the company to which they are attached does not respond to the alarm on first call, they shall proceed to their engine, hose or truck stations, and remain thirty minutes, unless called into service, or relieved by dismissal. No member shall be absent from duty for a longer period than one month, except in case of sickness, or by special permission of the Chief of Department. No person whose occupation requires his daily absence from the city will be eligible to membership in this department. Any officer or member of this department who shall remove from the city shall thereupon cease to be a member; and all members of the department will be required to live within a reasonable distance of their respective stations.
SUBSTITUTES.
Each company may have two substitutes to take the places of call-members absent from the city, or disabled by sickness. They shall be approved by the Chief of Depart- ment, and shall, if for services rendered for a period of fifteen days or more, receive the same compensation as their principals, to be deducted from their principal's pay. Any substitute serving for a less time than fifteen days shall be
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paid the amount of fines imposed on his principal for non- attendance at fires or alarms. Any member failing to pay his substitute on the following pay-day shall be subject to dismissal. No substitute can be assigned to duty in place of his principal during the time of a fire or an alarm of fire.
BUNKERS.
Call-men to whom beds are assigned will be required to retire at or before 11 P. M., unless excused by the engineer, or person in charge of the station, and will not be allowed to use or occupy the same during the day, unless deprived of their usual rest by the performance of active fire duty, or in case of sickness sufficient to require the use of the same. No visitors will be allowed in the bunk-rooms after hours, or at any other time while the beds are occupied. It shall be the duty of the engineer to immediately report to the Chief of Department any misconduct or violations of the rules on the part of persons occupying said beds. The occupant of each bed will be held responsible for the cleanliness of the same, and for any damage to either bed or bedding through carelessness. All members occupying sleeping-quarters in the engine, hose, and truck stations, shall vacate their beds, from May 1 to Oct. 1, at 6.30 A. M., and from Oct. 1 to May 1, at 7 A. M.
HORSES AND FEEDING.
The system of feeding shall be as follows, particular care being exercised not to feed or water the horses while too warm :-
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Four quarts of oats morning and night ; this, with about eight or ten pounds of hay after bedding the horses, will constitute the daily allowance for each horse, and must not be exceeded. But, when it shall be ascertained that a less allowance is sufficient, the driver will exercise discretion as to the quantity. The stalls to be cleaned early in the morn- ing, after breakfast the horses groomed and the harnesses cleaned. Horses sick or disabled will be immediately reported to the Chief of Department. No alteration or changes in harness will be permitted, except upon authority of the Chief of Department. When horses are in the shop for shoeing, the drivers shall remain with them, and shall report to the Chief of Department any unnecessary delay, or any work improperly executed, and will allow but one shoe to be removed at a time.
BADGES.
All members of the Department shall be provided with a badge, to be known as the Regulation Badge of the Department, which shall be worn in a conspicuous place during the time they are on duty; and no member shall lend his badge on any pretext whatever. Any member losing his badge shall immediately notify the Chief of Department and use all diligence to recover the same. He shall be required to pay for the same before another badge will be provided, the money so paid to be refunded should the badge be found. These badges shall at all times remain the property of the city. Any member loaning his badge to any person not connected with the Department shall be subject to dismissal. No person will be recognized as a member of this Department unless wearing his badge.
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ROLL-CALL.
Upon returning from a fire, or an alarm of fire, the Assistant Foreman. or, in his absence, the Foreman, shall call the roll and report to the Chief of Department any member absent and the excuse for the same; and in no case shall the permanent members act as substitutes for the call-members, or answer for them at roll-call.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
No permanent member shall leave the city or be granted leave of absence without notifying the Chief of Depart - ment and procure a substitute to his acceptance; and the substitute shall be on duty before the applicant leaves his post, and the pay of the substitute may be deducted from the pay of the principal. Any member of the call-force expect- ing to be absent from the city shall notify the Foreman of his company and procure a substitute to his satisfaction. Whenever leave of absence is granted to bunkers they shall report the same to the person in charge of their station, and shall in like manner report their return.
SUPPLIES.
No member of the Department will be allowed to make any purchases for the Department, chargeable to the city, except by order of the Chairman of Fire Committee or Chief of Department.
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MEALS.
For permanent members three hours daily will be allowed for meals, and will be so arranged that there shall be at all times one member on duty.
DUTIES AT FIRES.
At all fires, the first officer arriving shall, in the absence of the Chief or Assistant Chief, and until his arrival, act as Chief of Department, and be obeyed and respected accord- ingly. The men are required to move quickly, and obey orders promptly and without criticism. The officers in charge of the several companies shall, immediately on their arrival at a fire, report to the officer in command, and remain for orders. No company shall leave the fire grounds, or take the apparatus of which they have charge therefrom, without the order or permission of the officer in command. Any neglect of duty, disobedience of orders, or disrespect to officers, shall be reported to the Chief of Department. No member shall wilfully or maliciously direct a stream of water upon any fireman or citizen. All disputes which may arise between companies or individual firemen when on duty shall be settled by the engineer in command. Members of companies that are not in service at fires will not enter the buildings unless ordered, but remain convenient to the fire, equipped, and ready for orders.
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GOING TO OR FROM FIRES.
Order and decorum will be preserved when going to or from a fire or an alarm. To guard against collision and accident when proceeding to fires, the gongs will be struck when approaching street-crossings, turning corners, and approaching the fire-grounds.
RIDING TO FIRES.
All drivers will be held responsible for any unnecessary overloading, and will in all cases judge of the ability of the horses, the condition of the streets, and the distance to travel. The men will mount and dismount as ordered by them. Officers will avail themselves of any opportunity to ride to fires (excepting on engines), to the exclusion, if necessary, of the men. -
FIRE GROUNDS.
All engine and hose companies responding to second or general alarms will connect, but will not lay their lines until they have reported to the officer in command at the fire for orders.
STATIONS.
Stations of the department shall be open from 10 A. M. until 10 P. M. for visitors, and at any other time for inspec- tion by members of the City Government. On the Sabbath
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all stations must be closed, and it is made the duty of the engineer or person in charge to see that order and quiet are preserved. All work other than that absolutely necessary will be omitted for the day. The permanent members of each station shall once in each week scrub the floors of their respective stations, and at all times keep them neat and clean. The members in charge of the several stations shall personally attend to the receiving of visitors, whether mem- bers of the City Government, officers of the Department or citizens. Citizens visiting the stations shall be courteously treated, have reasonable questions answered and any proper information given. All members detailed to sleep in the stations must be in their quarters at the time stated for clos- ing the station, unless otherwise excused, and all other per- sons must leave at that time.
DRILL.
Until further notice the truck company will drill once each month, from May 1 to October 1, and all other com- panies at such times as may be ordered by the Chief of Department.
CONDUCT.
All members of the Department are strictly required in their intercourse with each other, social or official, to observe a courteous demeanor, and officers or men in addressing each other will do so in a respectful manner. While on duty at fires the greatest degrees of silence compatible with a proper discharge of duty will be required. No profane or ungen- tlemanly language, or disorderly conduct will be allowed on
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the part of any officer or member of the Department when on duty.
No spirituous or malt liquors will be allowed in any station of the Department or at any fire. If any member shall enter any station of the Department intoxicated or become intoxicated at a fire he shall be subject to dismissal.
No gambling of any kind will be allowed in any station of the Department.
GENERAL RULES.
RULE 1.
No driver of engine, hose, hook-and·ladder truck, or other vehicle, shall drive over any line of hose if it can be avoided.
RULE 2.
No company will be allowed to take its apparatus from their quarters, except in case of fire, without consent of the Chief of Department.
RULE 3.
The hose must be changed on reels once in four weeks, unless otherwise ordered by the Chief of Department, for which purpose the foreman will warn the members of his company detailed for this purpose ; and any member absent, unless excused, will be fined the same amount as for absence from fires.
RULE 4.
Any member permanently employed who refuses or neglects to pay any just debt contracted during his connec- tion with the department, it shall be deemed sufficient cause for suspension or discharge.
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RULE 5.
No permanent officer or member of the department shall attend a caucus or political convention as a delegate, dis- tribute tickets at any election, or take any part whatever in political matters other than to exercise a right of suffrage.
RULE 6.
All members of the department will be required to address officers by their respective titles when on duty.
RULE 7.
When any member shall leave the department, he shall thereupon return his badge, key and copy of Rules and Regulations, in good condition, to the foreman of his com- pany, who shall immediately notify the Chief of Department ; and any member failing so to do shall have the amount deducted from his pay.
RULE 8.
No balls, parties or social gatherings of any description shall be held in any building in charge of the department, except on permission from the Chief of Department.
RULE 9.
No property belonging to the city will be loaned for any purpose whatever except upon written order of the Chief of Department.
RULE 10.
No hoseman or truckman at call shall be entitled to pay for less than fifteen days' service. All appointments shall, as far as practicable, be made to date from the first or fifteenth day of each month.
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RULE 11.
In the use of hydrants all members of the department are instructed to use great care in the opening and closing of the same, and to see that each cap is properly adjusted before leaving. The first company connecting to a hydrant in case of fire will leave one member in charge of the same; should a second company or line desire connection, it will not be made until the line is complete to the fire, and orders given for water. Exceptions to this are ordered for engines, which will be given immediate connection (if ordered into service), and the hydrant left in charge of the engineer.
RULE 12.
Officers of companies, hosemen and laddermen will wear their fire-hats when on duty.
Approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, April 19, 1880. Attest: EDWIN O. CHILDS, Clerk.
H. L. BIXBY, Chief Fire Department.
ORDINANCES RELATING TO FIRE DEPARTMENT
ORDINANCE XIII.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SECTION 1. A Fire Department is hereby established.
Department established Charter, $7
There shall be a Chief of Fire Department, an Assistant Chief, who shall be operator of the ' fire alarm under the direction of the Superinten- dent telegraph, three steam fire-engine compa- nies, four hose companies, and one truck company.
Each steam fire-engine company shall consist of eleven men ; to wit, a foreman, an assistant fore- man (who shall also be clerk), an engineman, a driver, a fireman, and six hosemen.
Each hose company shall consist of six men; to wit, a foreman, an assistant foreman (who shall also be clerk), and four hosemen.
Each truck company shall consist of thirteen men; to wit, a foreman, an assistant foreman (who shall also be clerk), a driver, and ten truckmen.
SEC. 2. The Chief of Department shall be Chief responsible for the discipline, good order, and Duties proper conduct of the officers and men consti-
Number men and officers
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May suspend. Superinten- dence and con- trol of houses and apparatus.
tuting the department, and for the good condition of all houses, reservoirs, hydrants, wells, engines, hose, hose-carriages, hooks and ladders, trucks, and all apparatus and furniture thereto belonging, and connected with the department. He may suspend any officer or member, and shall forth- with refer his case to the Board of Aldermen for its action. He shall have the superintendence, and. under the direction of the joint standing committee on the fire department, the control, of the engine and other houses used by the depart- ment, of the furniture therein, and of the engines and apparatus, as well as of all other property appertaining to the department.
Sole command of members.
SEC. 3. The Chief of Department, or, in his absence, the Assistant Chief, shall have sole and absolute control and command of all the other members of the department and of other persons present at fires.1 The officer in command of the
Fire-wards, etc., may order buildings to be pulled down.
1 PUBLIC STATUTES .- SEC. 3. The fire-wards, or any three of them, present at a place in immediate danger from a fire, or, where no fire-wards are appointed, the selectmen, or mayor and aldermen present, or, in their absence, two or more of the civil officers present, or, in their absence, two or more of the chief military officers of the place present, may direct any house or building to be pulled down or demolished, when they judge the same to be necessary in order to prevent the spreading of the fire.
Engineer to have power of fire-wards un- der Sec. 3.
SEC. 4. In cities and towns, which by vote of the City Council, or of the legal voters respectively, have accepted the provisions of this section, or of chapter two hundred and one of the statutes of the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three, the engineer of a fire depart- ment in command at a fire shall, to the exclusion of all other persons, have the power conferred by the preced- ing section.
Acceptance.
[Stat. 1873, chap. 201. Accepted Feb. 12, 1877.]
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company which first arrives at a fire shall be the officer in command until the Chief of Depart- ment or the Assistant Chief arrives.
SEC. 4. The Chief of Department shall keep Rolls. rolls of the companies. specifying the name, age, occupation, and residence. and the date of the admission and discharge. of each member of the department; and he shall keep an accurate account of all property belonging to it.
He shall. at the close of each three months. Reports of fires, and oftener if required. make to the City Council etc. a detailed report of the condition of the fire department. of losses and accidents by fire, with the causes thereof as well as they can be ascer. tained, and of the description of the buildings and other property destroyed or injured. the amount of insurance. and the names of the owners.
SEC. 5. The foremen shall preserve order Foremen. and discipline in their respective companies. and shall promptly report in writing the name of any member guilty of misconduct to the Chief of Department. who shall, if he thinks it proper, report thereon to the Mayor and Aldermen.
The foremen shall cause to be kept by the Rolls. respective clerks rolls of the companies. specify- ing the time of admission and discharge of each member. together with the age. residence. and occupation of each member. and a record of all the city's property intrusted to their care. Their rolls and record-books shall at all times be subject to the inspection of the Chief of Department ;
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and they shall furnish him with copies or abstracts thereof at his request.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the men permanently employed in the department to keep the apparatus committed to their care, and the several buildings in which the same is deposited, and all things intrusted to their care, clean, and in order for immediate use, and to wash and dry the hose of the entire department when required so to do; and they shall clear the snow from the sidewalks and driveways connected with the houses under their charge.
Companies not to leave city, except.
SEC. 7. No company shall leave the city in case of a fire in another city or town, except by order of the Chief or Assistant Chief of Depart- ment.
Members not to be transferred, except.
SEC. 8. No member shall be transferred from one company to another, except by order of the Chief of Department.
Badge.
SEC. 9. Every member of the department shall wear at every fire such a badge as the Chief of Department shall prescribe ; and no person without such badge shall, except by permission of the officer in command, enter within lines formed at a fire by such officer.
SEC. 10. The Chief of Department shall ex- amine all places where shavings or other combus tible materials are deposited or collected; and shall see to the removal of the same, whenever, in his opinion, the same are dangerous ; and shall direct the owners, tenants, or occupants of such places to remove the same, which they shall do forthwith ; and. in case of refusal or neglect, he
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