The Fire Department of Akron

The Fire Department of Akron

Under the efficient management of Chief John F. Mertz, the fire department of Akron. Ohio, in spite of the fact that it is not yet quite as up-to-date as the chief could wish, has attained a high degree of efficiency. The department consists of 121 men. The chief, in a recent interview, spoke as follows: “The fire department is a harmony department, first of all. After that comes discipline and then cooperation. Discipline is maintained in the fire department by co-operation, not fear. Of all organizations on earth that cannot be a one-man outfit, the fire department is it. Each man realizes that the success of our work depends upon what he learns and how well he applies what he learns. He has a feeling of pride in what his particular organization stands for and can accomplish. Akron firemen realize that they are the paid employees of the city. They are taught never to forget that they are here to serve the rich and poor, aristocratic and lowly alike, and that it costs nothing to be courteous to all. When they are taken into the fire department the rulings are read to them. The men are not guided by arbitrary rule. They are requested to obey the rulings, not to the letter always, but within the bounds of sound judgment and reason. If they feel later that they are so much out of sympathy with the policy of the fire department that they can’t line up with it, they are told that the sooner they decide to sever connections the happier they will be.”

Under the efficient management of Chief John F. Mertz, the fire department of Akron. Ohio, in spite of the fact that it is not yet quite as up-to-date as the chief could wish, has attained a high degree of efficiency. The department consists of 121 men. The chief, in a recent interview, spoke as follows: “The fire department is a harmony department, first of all. After that comes discipline and then cooperation. Discipline is maintained in the fire department by co-operation, not fear. Of all organizations on earth that cannot be a one-man outfit, the fire department is it. Each man realizes that the success of our work depends upon what he learns and how well he applies what he learns. He has a feeling of pride in what his particular organization stands for and can accomplish. Akron firemen realize that they are the paid employees of the city. They are taught never to forget that they are here to serve the rich and poor, aristocratic and lowly alike, and that it costs nothing to be courteous to all. When they are taken into the fire department the rulings are read to them. The men are not guided by arbitrary rule. They are requested to obey the rulings, not to the letter always, but within the bounds of sound judgment and reason. If they feel later that they are so much out of sympathy with the policy of the fire department that they can’t line up with it, they are told that the sooner they decide to sever connections the happier they will be.”