FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTORS HOLD SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE
Fifteenth Annual Gathering Brings Out 326 Delegates
THE fifteenth annual meeting of the Fire Department Instructors Conference was held at Memphis, Tennessee. This Conference is sponsored jointly by the Fire Prevention Department of the Western Actuarial Bureau of Chicago and the Fire Department of the City of Memphis, the facilities of the latter organization being available through the cooperation of the Chief Irby Klink and Acting Chief Connie O’Sullivan and Joseph P. Boyle, Vice-Mayor and Commissioner of Public Safety of Memphis.
The Conference started on Tuesday, January 5, and ran through four busy day’s.
Richard E. Vernor, Manager, Fire Prevention Department, Western Actuarial Bureau of Chicago, opened the Conference, and addresses of welcome on the part of Memphis were delivered by the Hon. Walter Chandler, Mayor; Acting Chief Connie O’Sullivan of Memphis; Alfred D. Mason, Fire Prevention Committee of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce; Hon. James M. McCormack. Commissioner of Insurance and Banking, State of Tennessee, and Hon. Joseph P. Boyle, Vice Mayor and Commissioner of Public Safety.
Dean Harold H. Ingham, Director of the Kansas Fire College of Kansas, opened the technical program with a paper on “America’s Challenge to the Fire Service.” This was followed by another very interesting talk by Harry K. Rogers, Chief Instructor of the Fire Prevention Department, Western Actuarial Bureau, Chicago, on “Panic.” Following the morning session, a luncheon was held through the courtesy of the Memphis Fire Department at fire headquarters. Following the luncheon, Percy Bugbee, General Manager, National Fire Protection Association, Boston, spoke on “National Fire Control Problems.” “In England,” said Mr. Bugbee, “the records show that 85% of all the war damage that country has suffered has been due to fires started by incendiary bombs and only 15% to demolition bombs and high explosive shells.” Fire, he emphasized, has proved a far more destructive weapon in modern warfare than either bombs or shells.
While the Nation’s total fire losses dropped from $522,000,000 in 1941 to $310,000,000 in 1942, Mr. Bugbee pointed out, there has been an increase in industrial fire losses as contrasted with the decrease in dwelling and rural fire losses. He attributed the large industrial fire losses in part to hasty construction of factory buildings for the war effort and to the large number of new workers who are not trained in the methods of fire prevention.
The afternoon session included the following papers:
“A Practical Experience with Teacher Training” by Chief Robert A. Bogan, Fire Department, Baton Rouge, La.; “Inspection of Property Surrounding War Plants” by George Tatnall, Engineer, National Board of Fire Underwriters, Chicago: “Testing Hose and Apparatus” by Harry J. Corcoran, Chief Engineer, Iowa Insurance Service Bureau, Des Moines, Iowa.
A motion picture, “Fire Department First Aid,” was shown. This film, prepared by the Missouri Inspection Bureau of St. Louis, Mo., illustrated methods of first aid in fire departments.
“Information Please” Session
The evening session consisted of an “Information Please” program. Two selected teams opposed each other and were faced with a barrage of technical questions relating to fire protection. This session proved not only interesting, but very instructive.
The Wednesday morning session was opened with a trio of topics, which were discussed at length. The first was “Can Volunteer Firemen get Enough Gasoline?” Joint Strohm, State Fire Marshal of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa, opened the discussion by describing the experiences in his State. Others contributed to this discussion.
Photos by Hugh Walker
The second topic was “What About Fire Department Publications of Doubtful Value?” which was opened by James W. Just, Director, Fire Service Extension, University of Maryland, College Park. Mr. Just took a recent book on fire department matters as an example, and pointed out the danger of misinformation being circulated as a result of the publication of books by those not fully qualified to describe fire department methods.
The last of the subjects, which was also led by Chief Just, was entitled: “Sirens or Bells.”
The concensus of those who discussed the topic seemed to he that it is absolutely necessary to use sirens in going to fires, in order to eliminate accidents and to save time. With one exception, those who discussed the subject favored the use of sirens.
Manpower Shortage Discussed
“Meeting the Man Power Shortage” was the next address. It was delivered by George J. Richardson, Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Washington, D. C. Mr. Richardson reviewed the problems faced by fire departments today, due to the inroads into personnel by the draft and by enlistment in the armed forces. He offered constructive suggestions as to how the problems might be solved.
The next topic was “Communications and Fire Department Control During Aerial Bombardment,” by John A. Neale, Chief Engineer, Underwriters’ Laboratories, Chicago. Due to Mr. Neale’s inability to be present, the paper was read by Robert C. Loughead, Chief of the Michigan Inspection Bureau. In this paper, Mr. Neale reviewed the various methods of communications during aerial bombardment.
George Angell, Chief, Safety and Equipment Section, War Production Board, Washington, D. C., discussed “Apparatus, Equipment and the Priorities Situation.” He emphasized that the shortage of such equipment today was due entirely to the demands of the armed forces. Because of the shortage of critical metals, it has been necessary to curtail production of much civilian equipment. Mr. Angell reviewed the procedure in applying for priorities for fire apparatus and equipment.
Following the luncheon, which was held in the Fire Headquarters, Robert F. Hamm, State Fire Co-Ordinator of Indianapolis, discussed “Humor in Teaching.” He stressed the place of humor in fire department training, but warned against the use of anecdotes at points where the diverting of the attention of the students might result in lessened effectiveness of the lecture.
Keeping Firemen Interested
The afternoon session began with a paper on “How Can Auxiliary Firemen Be Kept Interested?” by Chief Earl A. Traeger, Fire Department, Minneapolis. Chief Traeger explained how his department has been able to maintain the interest of auxiliaries and believes that it is necessary to let auxiliaries have a hand in fire department activities if this interest was to be maintained.
Other papers on the afternoon program were “Rural Fire Prevention and Control,” Anton J. Tomasek, Rural Fire Protection Co-ordinator, Illinois State Council of Defense, Springfield: “Fighting Fires in Country Elevator” by R. D. MacDaniel, Vice-President, Grain Dealers National Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Indianapolis: “St. Louis Mutual Aid Plan” by William J. King. Inspector, Missouri Inspection Bureau, St. Louis.
In the evening several motion pictures, arranged by M. I. Parker, Engineer, Missouri Inspection Bureau, were shown. These proved very instructive and interesting.
The program of the Thursday morning session included the following:
“FDIC’s Own Quiz Kids.” Higgins, Hudiburg, Lockhart, Reske, Smith, “The Naval Fire Fighting bchools” by Lieutenant Commander Harold Burke, Bureau of Ships, Washington, D. C., “Fire Fighting in the Coast Guard” by Lieutenant Commander Lloyd Layman, Fort McHenry Training Station, U. S. Coast Guard, Baltimore; “Firemen’s Training,” W. Fred Heisler. Consultant. Firemen’s Training, Fire Defense Section, U. S. Office of Civilian Defense, Washington, D. C.: “Work of OCD Regional Training Advisers” by Lindon J. Murphy, Director of Fire College, Iowa State College, Ames.
At the Luncheon, Curtis R. Welborn, Secretary, Underwriters’ Laboratories of Chicago, spoke on “The Romance Behind t esting for Safety”
The afternoon session consisted of three papers as follows:
“The Sky Is the Limit” by Lieutenant Colonel Harold R. Brayton, Director, War Department Civilian Protection School, Loyola University, New Orleans.
“Fire Departments of the Future” by Clarence Goldsmith, Chief Consultant, Fire Defense Section, U. S. Office of Civilian Defense, Washington, D. C.
“Choosing a Training Instructor” by Chief J. F. MacMillan, Manager Florida State Fire College, Cocoa, Fla.
The Friday morning session was taken up by the following talks:
“The Mobile Mortar’s Use in Demolition” by Colonel Hernandez Rodrigue, Commander 2nd Regiment, Field Artillery National, Agraria, S. A. This hoax, conceived by Harry K. Rogers who also impersonated “Colonel Rodrigue,” proved highly entertaining.
Organization of Rescue Squads
“Organization and Training of Rescue Units,” James W. Just, Director Fire Service Extension, University of Maryland, College Park.
“Plant Organization for Fire Safety,” Emmett T. Cox, Instructor, Indiana, Inspection Bureau, Indianapolis, and Asst. Director Indiana Fire Service Training Schools.
“The Public Fire Department’s Responsibility in Relation to Plant Protection” by Captain John C. Klinck, Memphis Fire Department.
At the final session on Friday afternoon these subjects were covered:
Photo by Hugh Walker
Photo by Hush Walker
“The Fire Defense Section of OCD,” Jack Mason, Acting Chief, Fire Defense Section, U. S. Office of Civilian Defense, Washington, D. C.
“Local Assignment and Use of Auxiliary Equipment,” Harry J. Callahan, Chief of Instruction, Fire Department, Detroit.
“Lessons from the Cocoanut Grove Fire,” Percy Bugbee, General Manager, National Fire Protection Association.
State Fire College Directors Hold Informal Session at Fire Department Instructors’ Conference
Photo by Hugh Walker
