Brandon, Canada, Fire Losses

Brandon, Canada, Fire Losses

J. Mclhuish, chief of the fire department at Brandon, Canada, has just submitted his fourth annual report to the board of fire commissioners of that city, in which he says:

今年截至Novemebr 30日responded to 82 alarms for fire, six of these calls were false alarms, leaving 76 actual calls, being 31 calls less than that of the previous year. The total loss for the year amounted to $23,610, being $5,555.50 more than the previous year, due entirely to the loss of the Maple Leaf elevators, the fire being beyond control before the alarm was received. The total amount of insurance was $73,1150, whilst the aggregate value of the buildings and contents, where these fires with losses occurred, was $113,875. The department laid 15,700 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose, used 1,911 gallons of chemicals, raised 178 feet of ladders, and threw water 21 times. The manual force, was increased by the addition of three men on July 1. making total strength of the department to 19 fully paid men. There was added to the apparatus one Scagrave 80-horsepower combination motor truck and up to the present time, has proved a valuable acquisition to the department, responding first ott every occasion since it was put into service. The apparatus in service is as follows: one 80-horsepower combination motor truck, one 05-foot aerial ladder truck, one hose wagon, one hose sleigh, one chief’s buggy, one cutter. In reserve: One chemical (90 gallon), one steamer, one village ladder truck, one hose wagon, one hose sleigh. Five hundred feet of 2 1/2-inch hose, 24 feet of 4-inch suction hose, 17 feet of 3 1/2-inch and 50 feet of 3-inch hose was purchased during the year; all hose is in good condition, with the exception of 1,000 feet, which can be classified as second grade, making a total of 7,350 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose. i would again recommend that red lights be placed over every fire alarm box, so that it would be easy to locate the box at night, and that flusystem be extended on the outskirts, which would require four additional boxes, and also that the circuits he rewired with weatherproof copper covered wire, thus allowing for greater extension of the system. i would also recommend that a light automobile runabout be purchased, and by so doing. I have every reason to believe it would be a saving to the city, by relieving the larger arid more expensive machine from attending some fire calls, which could be attended by the lighter machine.