Fire Improvements Recommended01

Waupaca County Post

May 13, 1926

Some Improvements Recommended For City Fire Equipment

The following was furnished to City of Waupaca by Wisconsin Inspection Bureau, Milwaukee, Wis., M.I. Parker, Engineer, last January.

Waterworks

1. Make tenure of office of water superintendent secure, with removal only for just cause.

2. Inspect and operate gate valves annually.

3. Flush, inspect and oil all hydrants in the spring and fall of each year. Keep hydrants painted a conspicuous color.

4. Adopt as a standard in future installations, hydrants having two 2-1/2 in. outlets, 5 or 6 in. riser barrel, and 6 in. connection with street main.

5. In future installations, discontinue the use of any pipe smaller than 6 in. where supplying fire service.

6. Connect up all dead ends where practical.

Fire Department

7. Make tenure of office of fire chief secure, with removal only for just cause after a fair trial. The chief shall be appointed to have full command, with assistant next in authority, who shall have full command in the absence of the chief.

NOTE – It is urgently recommended that the fire chief be sent to the Milwaukee Fire Department Drill School in order to become familiar with the modern and most efficient methods of saving life and property.

8. A captain, lieutenant, and members of ladder company shall be drilled in the proper handling and raising of ladders, ventilating buildings, general salvage work, and aid to hose and engine companies. Members shall be trained to go inside buildings while fires are in their incipient state and use hand extinguishers as first aid equipment.

9. A captain, lieutenant and members of hose company shall be drilled in the laying of hose, making couplings at hydrants, placing nozzles and seeing that sufficient hose is taken from hose wagon or reel to reach any parts of the building which may be on fire. After fire or drills all hose used should be cleaned and dried before being replaced on wagon or reel.

10. A captain and three men shall be drilled in operating steam pumping engine, same to be tested at least twice each year, and men drilled in the proper care and operation.

11. Provide additional chemical equipment consisting of at least one 40 gallon chemical engine, equipped with bypass for 2-1/2 in. hose and 200 ft. of chemical hose. NOTE – This equipment may be mounted on horse drawn wagon, or on automobile truck, should one be purchased.

12. Members of the department shall be drilled in the proper handling of chemical engine, and to become familiar with discharging, recharging and flushing out of chemicals and hose.

13. Provide a relief driver, who shall report to fire station and assume duties when paid driver is off duty; and in addition arrange sleeping quarters in fire station for at least 5 member of the department who will be available for fire duty at night. NOTE – Boots and bunker pants, etc., should be provided for members responding to alarm at night from fire station.

14. Hold practice drills at regular intervals (not less than once per month). At these drills apparatus should be used and the same performance gone through as though there was a fire. During inclement weather, indoor drills should be held and a careful study given the modern methods of fighting fires and handling and care of apparatus

15. Test all hose twice each year at a pressure of at least 200 lbs. and immediately replace with new any hose found in a deteriorated condition. NOTE – This may be accomplished by filling hose with water, capping ends and using hand pump such as plumbers use, or shut-off nozzles may be used.

16. Provide for weekly inspection, by some fire department official, of all apparatus and equipment, keeping a complete record of condition of same.

17. Keep accurate records of members attending fires and practice drills; also record of all fires, losses, and apparatus and equipment used.

18. Require that inspection work, in accordance with regulations of the Industrial Commission along fire prevention lines, be rigidly enforced. NOTE – It is most desirable that chief officer and company officers become familiar with the building construction and special hazards within the mercantile and manufacturing districts.

Fire Alarm

19. Make arrangements for giving general alarm more promptly than present system provides, preferably by a connection from telephone exchange to alarm signal. In addition, post in a conspicuous place in the telephone exchange, the names and telephone numbers of all firemen, with arrangements made to call these men in the event of a fire.

Ordinances

20. Rigidly enforce the ordinance regulating building construction within fire limits, in accordance with State Building Code.

21. Rigidly enforce the State laws regulating the storage, sale, handling and use of volatile oils and explosives, together with the fire prevention measures.