SOME LESSONS FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE AND CONFLAGRATION.
San Francisco’s fire department has long been recognised as one of the most efficient in the United States. It deserves the reputation it has borne by reason of the discipline and character of the men who are in the service and the superiority of its apparatus. Handicapped as the department has been by reason of the fact that ninety per cent, of the buildings in San Francisco were frame and were constructed on hilly territory, with the winds of the Pacific ocean sweeping over the city at all hours, it has been able to cope with all conflagrations up to the one of the memorable 13th of April, and would have prevented the tremendous fire that swept over so many acres at that time, had it not been hampered by a crippled water supply. The earthquake that preceded the fire was unexpected, and as a result of its violence water piping was twisted and broken. The supply of water that had proved so effective in times past was cut off, and the department was forced to use dynamite as a means of stopping the fire. Our department cannot be held responsible for the vast devastation of property occasioned by that conflagration. Our men battled with the flames until exhausted, and it is due to their heroic and splendid efforts that so great a portion of our beautiful city was saved from destruction. The story of the great earthquake and fire lias been told and retold, and will ever be a subject of discussion; but, as I have been appealed to to give my views on the conflagration, I will do so from the standpoint of a fireman. The trembler having played havoc with our fire alarm system, not an alarm bell rang to warn the department that fires were raging all over the city. In truth, there was no need of bells that morning. In the vicinity of every firehouse buildings were consumed hy the flam’es, and every effort was made to extinguish the fires. Hydrant after hydrant was tested and not a drop of water was to be found. Our system was paralysed, and we were practically helpless. This did not deter us from our duty. In the Western addition were two large fires within a radius of two blocks. After a long search a hydrant was found sending out water four blocks away from the scene of the conflagration. and then began the task of pumping water a distance of 3,200 feet. This was done by stationing an engine at the hydrant which pumped through 800 feet of hose; here another engine forced the water through another 800 feet, and so on until three engines in tandem were busily engaged. Both fires were extinguished by this means. All the apparatus was then ordered to the southern part of the city to lend assistance, as dense volumes of smoke in that direction denoted that the fire had made great headway, and reinforcements were needed to stem the course of the flames. Not a drop of water was to he had from the hydrants, and the water was forced to pump from the sewers. At the waterfront all the fireboats were busily striving to check the incipient blazes that threatened to destroy valuable shipping and wharfage property. How the fire spread to all sections of the city is an old story. Fireproof structures were gutted, and millions of dollars of property were destroyed. And yet, had we possessed an adequate water supply. I am positive that our department would have had every fire under contral before night. Dynamite was used in great quantity to subdue the flames that swept over the city. In the hands of competent persons the explosive is a valuable auxiliary in fighting fire when other means fail. Our department gained valuable experience in the handling of dynamite, and I trust that other departments may profit hy our observations. Tn the first place dynamite should be stored in an isolated spot and under the control of the United States army. It should never be brought into use until ordered by the chief of the fire department, and then it should be handled by trained men. preferable soldiers, commanded hy competent officers. Great harm was done during the first days of the fire by the undiscriminating use of black powder. It developed that when this black powder was exploded, it threw off a combustion that ignited all the woodwork with which it came in contact, thus starting additional fires. Giant power, made of nitro-glvcerine, was also used with the same results. On the third day of the conflagration seventy-five per cent, dynamite, in stick form, was used with splendid results, as there was no combustion, and the buildings were leveled without danger. I would, therefore, recommend the use of stick dynamite, guncotton or other true high explosives that throw off no combustion, as the only means of checking a tremendous, fire, when water is not obtainable, as it levels a building to where you can deliver water to control the flames of such structures of frame or brick of ordinary construction, containing wooden floor-joists and wooden dividing partitions. I would recommend dynamite to destroy buildings of “Class A” construction, which are of the skeleton type, with steel frame and floors riveted at all junction points, for the reason that it would take an enormous quantity to level a building of that construction. I would further recommend that, when dynamite is used, it should be exploded with electricity, as, with the fuse system, there is danger of not exploding when expected. I11 regard to the future water supply for fire protection here, my plan would be to build reinforced concrete cisterns, 1,000 to 1,500 ft. apart, each with a capacity of 100,000 gals. These should be distributed in various sections of the city, to be used in the event of the usual water system being cut off or disabled from any cause whatsoever. These cisterns would necessarily have to be filled with fresh water, for the reason that our engines are not suitable for pumping salt water, unless there is fresh water to feed their boilers. I am in favor of wide streets, and I earnestly hope that, in the rebuilding of our city, the proper authorities will recall the fact that it was the unusual width of several of our streets that aided most materially in checking the spread of the conflagration at several points. In the construction of the future buildings of San Francisco, one of the most important appurtenances thereto to be considered are standpipes. Under ordinary circumstances, every building four stories or more in height must he equipped with standpipes in front. On every floor there must be valves that will permit firemen to connect their hose, thus making it unnecessary for them to pull heavy lines of hose up tlie ladders. My idea is to have standpipes descend into the ground and be connected with the high-pressure main in the vicinity of the building. If this is adopted, it will be of great service to the fire department. As to our engines, they cannot be made heavier. We are improving them each year, but must also bear in mind that, if the improvement brings the engine over the seventon mark, it is impracticable for use in this city, because of the many hills. It is. therefore, absolutely necessary to construct high-pressure pumping stations. Chemical engines are of great service to any fire department. It has been proved that sixty per cent, of the fires are extinguished hy their use, and I look upon them as valuable auxiliaries. The discipline of the San Francisco fire department could not be improved. The men are athletic and intelligent and are trained to their perilous work. The two drill towers that are used hy the department have been invaluable. In my opinion, the drill tower is the right hand of any fire department. Tt is there that the men are taught how to handle themselves at great heights: how to use the life-nets, and the hundred and one things that a fireman must learn bv actual experience to make him a valuable acquisition to the department. The drill tower dispels nervousness and teaches a fireman that confidence is absolutely necessary in his dangerous calling. I cannot close this paper without paving a just tribute to Dennis T. Sullivan, late chief engineer of the San Francisco fire department. He was the ideal fireman; he was heart and soul in his work; and it is due to his energy that the department was brought to such a high state of development. He was recognised throughout the world as a great fireman, and he deserved the repuation that he bore. His constant thought was the welfare of his men and the improvement of the service. His whole idea was to keep the department ahead of any in the country, and that he succeeded is attested hy all. He possessed executive ability in the highest degree. He was a kindly man and a just man. He was beloved by every man in the department, and his loss is irreparahle. He set a high standard, and. as chief of the San Francisco fire department. I will strive to follow his great example in conducting the affairs of what I earnestly believe to he one of the greatest fire departments in the world.
The former volunteer firemen of Atlantic City, N. J.. have received payment for the property they sold to the city when the paid fire department was established.
*Paper rend before the Dallas convention of International Association of Fire Engineers.
