Administration Featured At New England Chiefs
The accent was on administrative developments at the 57th annual conference of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs at New Castle, N.H., June 24-27.
The chiefs were warned by Assistant Chief Carl Holmes of Oklahoma City that if they could not document the need for the number of men they have in engine and truck companies, they would eventually be running with fewer men. Chief John P. Reardon of New Haven declared that an effective attack on arson must be based on prevention and he described the computerized system being expanded in his city that is designed to spot buildings that are becoming likely arson targets. He said that the fire department, other municipal departments and private enterprises, such as insurance and banking, can work together to rescue a building from the likelihood of arson.
In explaining the way to apply for the $50,000 benefit paid by the federal government to the survivors of fire fighters killed in the line of duty, William Power, administrator of that program for the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration in Washington, said that he makes every effort to decide borderline cases in favor of the survivors.
A discussion of the 911 emergency phone system by representatives of the New England Telephone Company evoked criticism of the way the system is working in their municipalities by several chiefs. However the impression was left by the telephone people that 911 is here to stay and will expand in response to demand by citizens.
