THE ROUND TABLE
For Practical Discussion of Current Fire Department and Fire Management Problems
FIRE-FIGHTING OPERATIONS DURING THE RECENT FLOOD
MUNICIPALITIES that were visited by the recent flood, are rapidly restoring the damaged areas to a semblance of every day conditions. Families that were forced to evacuate their homes, are again going about their normal duties. Pittsburgh, one of the most severely striken cities, has inserted advertisements in many newspapers to inform the nation that its former commercial activities have been restored.
Firemen, who during the trying period, served for long stretches at a time, are back to their regular shifts. But an admirable record remains of long hours of unselfish service to their communities.
They patroled areas to replace the damaged fire alarm systems; rescued families that were marooned; helped move merchandise and household contents to higher levels; devised means for providing fire protection even under the most trying conditions.
This round table discussion, which is a continuation of the one published in the previous issue, relates the work done by Fire Departments in flooded communities. The question in full is printed in the box on this page. In the box on the following page is the problem that will be presented in the next issue.
Discussion of the Question
Harold E. Warner, Chief, Amherst, Mass.: Our Fire Department operations were not curtailed as we were not in the immediate flood area. However our department coverage was extended, due to the fact that the flood took out a bridge at Sunderland and the one between Hadley and Northampton was under water. This condition still exists.
The entire department was called out at 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, and remained out until 4 a.m. the next morning. We assisted the evacuation of the towns of Hadley and Sunderland, and the housing of the refugees.
Some sort of an organization should be set up with various committees to handle specific things such as transportation, housing, bedding, food, etc. If these committees were properly organized they could be functioning in far less time than the well known relief units, and I think the Fire Department should play an important part in this organization, due to the executive experience that the officers have in performing routine department matters. Each fire station should have first aid supplies available to use in any sort of an emergency and some sort of a truck available to transport the material.
Edward T. Rose, Chief, Wheeling, W. Va.: During the floods, approximately four square miles of the city were under water and could not be reached by fire apparatus. It included the entire island which constitutes & ward of the city, over half of the south side, one-third of the business section and one-third of the eastern section.
Apparatus in the flooded areas was provided with galvanized buckets. The men were instructed to go as close to the fire as possible, commandeer boats, and go out and start bucket brigades. One fire on the island was handled from one of the bridges by a ladder from the bridge to a house; then another ladder w&s placed to a second house until the building on fire was reached. An explosion, followed by fire in the South side, was handled by firemen going out in boats, hooking up to a standpipe in a manufacturing plant close by, and getting water on the fire. This was one-quarter mile from land. Two persons lost their lives in this explosion. Bucket brigades stopped several fires that were the making of big ones.
I would recommend that three light power boats be provided with provisions for placing a gasoline driven pump in them, the pumps to have a capacity of approximately 250 gallons per minute, and assigned one for the island section, one for the south side and one for the Pike or eastern section.
A. N. Yearick, Chief, Lewistown, Pa.: We were handicapped when the fire alarm system went out of commission because power lines went down at 5 a.m., Wednesday, March 18. One pumper company fire house was flooded and apparatus and equipment removed.
Removal of all persons from flooded areas was carried out under the supervision of the Fire Department. Boats were confiscated and placed under the direction of the department. Fire trucks assisted in the removal of people. One ladder truck was left stranded at the Viscose plant, and it was necessary for the driver to swim out.
F’ire police augumented the city police. The fire house was thrown open to refugees, providing sleeping quarters and the men furnished meals. Streets were patroled with fire trucks and men. After the waters receded old steam fire engines were used to pump out cellars. Two steamers worked continuously for 80 hours at one plant.
Department apparatus employed during the flood consisted of: four pieces of apparatus with all equipment such as boots, coats, rope, searchlights, etc. In one week’s patrol duty, two squad trucks covered 500 miles each, and two ambulances which covered 130 miles, each carried 130 patients.
Additional equipment to meet such an emergency should consist of flood lighting equipment, boats with motors, and an up to date fire alarm system.
John C. Moran, Chief, Hartford, Conn.: Fire-fighting operations were not curtailed in Hartford during the flood. Five pumpers worked day and night at various points of the city, and both platoons of men were on duty. Although we had many more than the usual number of fires during that period (105), the department responded to all of these alarms without any hitch whatever.
Pumping operations for the utility companies, hotels, department stores and an insurance company building were done by the department.
When the electric light company went out of commission the entire city was without electric current, which of course left us without current for charging our fire alarm batteries. Our floodlights and emergency truck were immediately put into service and cables connected from the fire alarm battery room to the generator which operated continuously for eight days and nights to furnish current for the batteries. A number of fire alarm boxes were covered by the flood waters, but all box circuits were kept intact except in one instance where it was discovered, after the waters had receded, that a box had disappeared. Apparently the water had carried the current between the two broken cable ends so that the box circuit was not out of commission.
HERE IS THE PROBLEM
Were fire fighting operations curtailed during the recent floods in your city.
If so, to what extent?
What work did your department perform outside of fire fighting operations?
Were any apparatus, such as department floodlights, etc., used in rescue operations?
What changes, or additional equipment, would you recommend to meet a recurrence of such an emergency?
Headquarters building is fully equipped with a large motor generator to furnish current for the fire alarm system, lighting the building and for elevator service. But the generator was located in the basement of the building. Therefore, it was under water and useless during the flood. We never expected water to reach such a level here in Hartford, but, after this experience, the generator will be placed on one of the upper floors of the building. This electrical generator equipment is an emergency plant to be used only should the electric light company fail to deliver current for fire alarm use, which has never happened until this occasion.
Rufus A. Crittenden, Chief, Haverhill, Mass.: There was no curtailment of operations, except that we were forced to set up an emergency fire alarm system, which was in complete W’orking order in a very short time.
The department aided the merchants in salvaging goods from stores and business establishments, pumped out cellars, flushed out buildings, checked sprinkler systems and oil storage, as well as ammonia systems.
Floodlights were used at night to assist in the removal of persons marooned in buildings surrounded by water, as well as to light up the city for the protection of property when the street lights failed. Floodlights were also used in the business establishments in salvage work.
Purchase of new floodlight equipment, a boat for rescue work, and additional men for the Fire Department are recommended as an aid in meeting any future emergency of this sort.
M. J. Shea, Chief, Fitchburg, Mass.: Fire fighting operations were curtailed for about forty-eight hours. Five bridges w-ere washed away and a low service water main sprung a bad leak through the sagging of the pipes due to a washout, thereby affecting two sections of the city.
Every man in the department was on duty for twenty-four hours, rescuing persons out of buildings by the use of boats and with the aid of the 75-foot aerial ladder. Due to swift currents boats had to be abandoned in several places along the river.
Two pumpers were in operation. The one at the Burbank Hospital was in service for 116 hours in order to boost the water supply pressure. Floodlights were also in use here. The second pump was used at the department electric light plant until a 1,500 g.p.m. and a 600 g.p.m. pump, purchased from Boston, were placed. Two pumps, 400 and 600 g.p.m. were hired. Our electric light plant was back in service within twenty-four hours.
Additional floodlighting equipment would be needed for future work of this type.
Harry E. Colburn, Chief, Albion, N. Y.: Albion did not suffer from flood waters as did other villages in the southern tier.
The greatest damage experienced here was because the sewage system was unable to handle the surface waters brought on by rains and melting snows.
A 750-gallon pumper was used for three days and two nights, pumping from a manhole in a trunk line sewer. This greatly relieved the situation. If that had not been possible, the damage would have been much greater.
Floodlights and another pumper would help out in a condition such as ours. Our pumper, of the centrifugal type, suffered no damage through this emergency use.
George W. M. Brown, Chief, Newburgh, NY.&emdash;Fire fighting operations in the city of Newburgh were not curtailed during the recent floods. We were very fortunate in escaping with only a few flooded cellars in the down town area.
A. G. Derra, Chief, Schenectady, N. Y.— Fire fighting was not curtailed to any great extent during flood. Underpasses were slightly flooded but did not stop traffic. Fire apparatus passed through at reduced speed.
One person was removed from a house as water began to rise. Others were notified to move, as buildings were endangered by heavy rains.
Fire and Police Departments should be supplied with boats to help people caught by fast rising water, in case of floods.
H. C. Root. Chief, Springfield, Mass.— Recent flood did not curtail department operations.
Flooded areas were patrolled by boats until the flood water receded, and then by automobile until the fire alarm system was restored.
Floodlights were furnished to Mercy Maternity Hospital, where two babies were born, to the Salvation Army, Grand Army Hall, and various sections of the flooded area. Ropes, axes, claw-bars and sledge hammers were used in removing people from above the first floor.
E. S. Mohn, Chief, Jersey Shore, Pa.: We were extremely fortunate in not having any fire alarms while flood waters submerged the town. About fifty per cent of the area of the borough was under water. In the business district the water was from three to eight feet deep. Our water supply was curtailed, in that our source of supply main, a 16-inch pipe, was broken and a reservoir supply had to be relied upon. This failed to reach half of the town and no water was available in that section for about a week.
The department does not own flood lights or any equipment of that type, which could be put to use during a flood.
Our main fire station was submerged to a depth of four feet, but the apparatus was removed and placed on a private lawn, about a block from the fire house. The rear wheels were under water, but the engines of our Mack pumper and Seagrave city service truck were high enough to escape the water. 1 was marooned in my home with nine feet of water surrounding the house. Asst. Chief Edwards deserves the thanks of the community for his work.
Lloyd Layman, Chief, Parkersburg, W. Va.: During our recent flood, firefighting operations in this city were not curtailed due to emergency measures which were taken to cope with the situation. All firemen were ordered to continuous duty with meals being served in the station houses. For the protection of inundated high value district, a 750-gallon pumper mounted on a flat top steel barge was manned by a crew of one officer and five men during the entire flood period. In addition to the 750-gallou pumper, scaling and small ladders were provided, also necessary auxiliary equipment. A four-way Multiversal Nozzle was mounted on the pumper. This barge was powered by a gasoline towboat, and could be moved to any location in the flooded area. A houseboat provided living quarters for the crew. Communication with this equipment was maintained by a shortwave radio receiver through the Police broadcasting system.
Inspections of the High Value District was made as the water started to rise to determine that all gas was shut off, and all chemicals which were hazardous when combined with water were removed.
The barge used was a flat top steel fuel barge which we borrowed from the U. S. Army Engineering Department. It drafted about sixteen inches of water when equipment was loaded. Our gasoline towboat, which was rented from a private operator, drafted about eighteen inches of water. Poles were provided to move this barge when it was necessary to cut loose from the gasoline towboat.
I would recommend as equipment for cities whose high value districts are subject to reoccurrence of floods, a specially constructed flat top steel barge, preferably thirty to forty feet in length, on which a motor pumper could be mounted during such emergency. We have experienced no difficulty in hiring or borrowing a houseboat for living quarters, or a gasoline tug for motive power. The steel barge which we used is difficult to handle due to the fact that it is about eighty feet in length. During the entire flood we experienced no loss of life and not a single alarm of fire was received from the entire city.
HERE IS THE PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT ISSUE
What is the principal water supply to sprinkler systems in your city?
If from water mains, have tests been made to show whether engines will rob the sprinkler system ?
What are the rules as to connecting engine lines to sprinkler Siamese?
R. O. Raymond, Chief, Renova, Pa.— The town had seventy-five per cent of its area under water, and if a fire had broken out, the apparatus could not have been placed in operation due to the flooded streets.
The West Branch Hose Co. No. 2, and Emerald Hose Co. No. 3 helped people evacuate their homes. The ambulance of the West Branch Hose Company made fifty-two trips to homes, hospitals, etc,, took all the sick from the flooded area, and placed them in the Elk’s Home which was used as a temporary hospital.
After the water receded, both companies used their apparatus to pump out cellars, clean streets of mud, etc. The only lights available were the apparatus lights and a few electric lanterns.
Additional equipment should include gas masks, larger flood lights on apparatus, and dry clothes on apparatus for the men.
Herbert R. Ferris, Chief, Greenfield, Mass.—One section of the town was without fire protection during the flood. A pumper with ladders, carrying 1,000 feet of 254-inch hose, and 150 feet of 154-inch hose, nozzles and other necessary equipment, was sent to this section. The men of this area then formed a fire company to protect their homes.
A power boat was used for rescue work and help was given in flushing the streets after the flood.
For a like condition I would recommend floodlights, and a power boat on wheels that could be transported to any section of the town.
J. H. Espey, Chief, Elmira, N. Y—We were fortunate during the flood. Only one section of the city was inundated, and no fires occurred therein. No doubt, had an alarm been received from this section, it would have been difficult to tnaneouvre apparatus through the water, and fire-fighting operations would have been curbed.
Two of our motor pumpers were utilized to assist our siphon and the stationary pumps at the pump station so rising flood water would not stop their operation. These machines were used to hold down inrushing water in a hospital elevator pit, and at two schools. An old steam fire engine worked continuously for 190 hours at a sewer break, until the danger was past, but the flues at this time failed and we scrapped the steamer.
In the event of recurrence of such an emergency, ten portable pumping units purchased by the city should prove valuable. A siphon or two should be in the possession of the Department of Public Works and every possible step taken to eliminate Fire Department motor pumpers from this type of service. We were also handicapped by a lack of boats. These should be provided as Fire Department equipment and several others kept available by other agencies.
E. V. Stone, Chief, Ludlow, Mass.— Fire fighting operations were but slightly affected during the recent flood. Some equipment and apparatus were used successfully to prevent damage.
Floodlights were not needed because the local power plant was kept running. Our Akron siphon did a wonderful job and our only regret was that we didn’t have more.
Much could be advised for districts that are in potential flood areas. It seems criminal that nothing much has ever been done to meet such a happening. I am only a Chief, but in my business I must anticipate things that may never happen and equip my department to meet most any emergency that might arise. Floods visited most of these districts in former years, and it was only reasonable to expect a recurrence.
It seems fair to ask why weren’t dikes built, dams strengthened, and bridges kept safe? If only a part of the cost to rehabilitate had been spent before to prevent flood conditions, all this misery and loss of life would have been prevented, if not wholly, at least to a great extent. “Prevention is worth more than cure” is antique advice that Fire Chiefs never forget.
Thomas J. Lynch, Chief, Waterbury, Conn.: Waterbury is so situated that the recent flood did not cause any trouble. Several men who make their homes in shacks along the banks of the Naugatuck River were rescued.
One truck company was employed for about six hours at this task.
Firemen had to wade out into the river, and finally resorted to boats secured front one of the nearby lakes, to rescue the imperiled men.
Due to our location, I personally believe it would be unnecessary to purchase additional equipment to meet a similar emergency.
W. J. Gates, Chief, Glens Falls, N. Y.: The only flood condition was an excess of surface water. Cellars were flooded in every section of the city and our pumper was used to empty some of them.
C. M. Johnson, Chief, Knoxville, Tenn.: Fire fighting was not curtailed during recent floods in Knoxville.
On two occasions the Fire Department was called to rescue people who were marooned in their homes by a flooded creek which flows through the city. An aerial truck was used for this purpose.
Two or three small rowboats kept in fire stations would be all the additional equipment I believe necessary to take care of any emergencies in Knoxville that would be caused by floods.
George Brencher, Chief, Darien, Conn.: Darien was not affected by flood waters. Fire Department floodlight equipment was at the disposal of the State Police, if such was needed.
I do think that all Chiefs should have a portable floodlight generator for such emergencies.
F. J. Washburn, Chief, Auburn, N. Y,: Auburn has never experienced serious flood conditions.
This year a few cellars were flooded and some sewers were blocked. The department spent a total of five hours pumping out storm water sewer catch basins, and ten hours pumping at the light company plant to keep transformers dry.
Fred A. Hutchinson, Chief, White River Junction, Vt.: Fire department operations were not hampered during the flood period.
Assistance was given to move furniture from the first to the second floors of homes. About twenty-five buildings were’ flooded. The height of the water was about three or four feet in these structures.
J. J. Lynn, Chief, Easthampton, Mass.: The department received a call at 3:35 a.m. to send a boat to save some cattle. Accompanied by one fireman in a boat we went to the address given and succeeded in saving two cows and a horse. At another location we saved three cows and a horse. These animals had to swim about a quarter of a mile, but they were saved.
A second call was received from the same location early in the evening and the department apparatus was wrecked in making this response, as the water rose rapidly.
C. L. McCarthy, Chief, Worcester, Mass.: Department operations were affected very little during recent floods. Apparatus had to detour to avoid bridges. Assistance was rendered in pumping out cellars and placing floodlights. Additional regular water pumps could be used in a similar situation.
