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ANNUAL REPORT
FIEE DEPARTMENT
AND WIRE DIVISION
CITY OF BOSTON
\ i:\ii JLaNJ;l.\(. DECEMBER 31, 1934
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CITY OF BOSTON
PRINTING DEPAT^TMENT
193:.
ANNUAL REPOBT
FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND WIRE DIVISION
CITY OF BOSTON
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, [1934
CITY OF BOSTON
PRINTING DEPARTMENT
1935
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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Boston Public Library
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OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Edward F. McLaughlin,
Fire Commissioner.
Herbert J. Hickey,
Executive Secretary of the Department.
Henry A. Fox,
Chief of Department.
George L. Fickett,
S'tiperintend.ent of Fire Alarm Division.
Peter F. Dolan,
Superintendent of Wire Divisimi.
Edward E. Williamson,
Superintendent of Maintenance Division.
Samuel J. Pope,
Deputy Chief in Charge of Fire Prevention Division.
Martin H. Spellman, M. D.
Medical Examiner.
[Document 12—1935.]
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FOR THE YEAR 1934.
Boston, January 31, 1935.
Hon. Frederick W. Mansfield,
Mayor of the City of Boston.
Dear Sir, — I have the honor to submit herewith a
report of the activities of the Boston Fire Department
for the year ending December 31, 1934, as required by
section 24, chapter 4, of the Revised Ordinances of 1925.
Fire Loss.
The total fire loss for the City of Boston, estimated
by the insurance companies, amounted to $2,332,280.09,
of which $1,607,397.90 was on buildings and $724,882.19
was on contents. This total loss is $27,526 less than in
1933 and is the lowest fire loss paid in the City of Boston
since the year 1912.
The present high state of efficiency of the department,
combined with the constant inspection work performed
by the Fire Prevention Division are undoubtedly the
most important contributing factors in this substantial
reduction in the fire loss. The Arson Unit of the Fire
Prevention Division by constantly and vigilantly inves-
tigating all fires of any suspicious origin whatsoever, has
also been of valuable assistance in our efforts to stamp
out the crime of arson and reduce the loss.
City Document No. 12.
The fires showing the greatest loss during the year
are as follows:
January 5, 1934, Fenway Park ....
January 19, 1934, 101 and 103 State street,
Thomas Groom & Co. et al. ....
July 28, 1934, 333 Medford street. Revere Sugar
Refinery
September 9, 1934, 508-520 Bojdston street.
Hotel Brunswick
November 12, 1934, 2321-2337 Washington street.
Well worth Market, Inc., et al
December 10, 1934, 37 and 38 Lewis Wharf,
Kraft-Phenix Cheese Corporation et al.
December 27, 1934, 17 Elm street, Jamaica Plain,
Central Congregational Church et al.
24,875 22
94,367 73
45,966 59
50,823 68
63,702 59
43,795 00
79,575 00
Finances.
In our efforts to reduce the fire loss in the city the
matter of economic operation of the Fire Department
has not been overlooked. The expenditures of the
department have been carefully watched, and while
the efficiency of the department has been maintained
at high standard and the equipment has been kept in
first-class condition, it is gratifying to report a constant
reduction in the operating expenditures of the depart-
ment. As an illustration I submit below a table show-
ing how the expenditures of 1934 compare with those of
previous years.
Year ending December 31, 1934
31, 1933
31, 1932
31, 1931
31, 1930
31, 1929
31, 1928
31, 1927
31, 1926
31, 1925 (11 months)
$3,677,085 02
3,804,226 83
4,377,844 00
4,620,818 60
4,642,216 53
4,552,265 18
4,357,-568 28
4,183,945 99
4,290,314 84
3,724,006 57
FiEE Prevention.
The Fire Prevention Division of the department has
continued its ceaseless and systematic inspection of
buildings throughout the city for the purpose of remov-
ing conditions liable to cause fire. The inspectors have
also, on many occasions, given advice to owners on
proper protection for their property, to prevent the
FiEE Department,
spreading of fire. Fire prevention campaigns have
been conducted by submitting articles to the daily
press, by radio and by lectures in schools, lodges and
other societies.
During the year all classes of buildings, with the
exception of one and two family houses, were inspected
at regular intervals.
Number of inspections 103,865
Number of reinspections 10,474
Number of complaints 7,931
Number of corrections 10,474
Number of conditions found corrected on reinspection 7,767
Number of personal inspections 2,467
Oil burners inspected 1,354
Reports of hazardous conditions were sent to other
departments as follows:
Reports sent to Building Department .
Reports sent to School Buildings Department
Reports sent to Health Department
Personal services by Constable
1,837
11
3
509
The following inspections were made by district
officers and district inspectors:
Buildings inspected bj^ district officers
Inspections by district privates
Theatre inspections .
Schoolhouse inspections .
Public buildings inspections
Car house inspections
Deer Island monthly inspections
Long Island monthly inspections
87,790
25,970
3,685
3,780
822
71
12
12
A brief account of the activities of the Arson Unit, in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 383 of the
Acts of 1931, is as follows:
Number of Police Inspectors assigned to the Fire Pre-
vention Division from Police Headquarters
Number of Fire Prevention Inspectors on Arson Squad
Number of investigations by Arson Squad ....
(a) Reported as being suspicious .... 73
(5) Reported as being unknown or undetermined . 198
(c) Miscellaneous 33
Number of persons interviewed at Fire Prevention
Office
Number of hearings held at Fire Alarm Office (Fenway) .
6
6
304
37
27
City Document No. 12.
Number of hearings held, that on account of insufficient
evidence were not presented to District Attorney-
Number of cases presented to District Attorney for con-
sideration as to prosecution
Number of cases arraigned in Municipal Court .
Cases held for Grand Jury 2
Number of cases presented to Grand Jury by the District
Attorney
(a) Number of cases where indictments were
returned 10
(h) Number of No Bills returned .... 3
Number of cases awaiting action by the District
Attorney
Number of trials
Number of cases (conviction obtained)
Number of persons convicted
Number of persons found not guilty ....
Number of persons arrested
Number of persons, under indictment, awaiting trial .
Number of persons summoned at hearings .
(a) Department witnesses 149
(h) Civilian witnesses 158
11
16
2
13
7
16
14
22
6
23
9
307
Fire Apparatus.
No new apparatus was purchased for the depart-
ment in 1934 in order to economize on expenditures
during the year. The motor equipment of the depart-
ment at the present time consists of the following:
Type.
In Service.
In Reserve.
Pumping engines
52
48
23
8
3
36
3
1
2
1
13
7
5
9
Steam engines (tractors)
3
8
Aerial ladder trucks
6
6
Water towers
1
8
Training school car
1
Rescue cars •
2
Fuel cars
1
Portable lighting plants
Wrecking car
Commercial trucks
Emergency cars (Ford)
Ford coupes
Fire Department.
Civil Works Administration.
In conjunction with the Federal Civil Works Adminis-
tration this department established a project for the
painting of the interiors of fire stations. Work under
this project (No. 293) began in December, 1933, and
sixty-four journeyman painters, eight foreman painters
and four clerks were assigned to the Fire Department.
Early in February, 1934, the number was reduced to a
total of fifty-eight men. At the close of business,
December 31, 1934, the interiors of thirty-nine buildings
had been painted.
In April, 1934, the Federal Emergency Relief Adminis-
tration was established, replacing the Civil Works
Administration, at which time our projects were re-
submitted and accepted, but the personnel on the
projects was greatly reduced.
High Pressure Service.
The records of the two high pressure service stations
for the year are as follows :
Station No. 1.
Station No- 2.
Total alarms to which pump responded .
Water discharged *
241
227,500 gallons
207
44,000 gallons
* Owing to the construction of the Venturi meters they do not record flows under 600
gallons per minute.
Hydrants.
The following is a list of the hydrants in service on
December 31, 1934:
Public. Private.
Ordinary post
Boston post
Lowry
Boston Lowry
Batchelder and Finneran post
Boston
High pressure
Chapman post
Ludlow post
Matthew post
Coffin post
Total
131
24
33
5
5
111
55
13
381
6 City Document No. 12.
Fire College.
The sessions of the fire college were conducted during
the year (except during the vacation period). Approxi-
mately two hundred members of the department received
instructions at the college during the year.
Drill School.
Thirty-nine members on probation successfully com-
pleted the course of instructions at the Department
Drill School during the year.
Pump School.
Three classes of the motor pump school were held
during the year, at which nineteen (19) members of the
department received instructions in the care and opera-
tion of motor fire pumps.
Chauffeurs' School.
Thirty-four (34) members of the department received
instructions in the chauffeurs' school during the year and
were certified as operators of department motor vehicles.
In addition, all members rated as chauffeurs were given
instructions in the care and operation of motor vehicles.
Mutual Aid.
The department responded to fifty-eight (58) alarms
of fire outside of the city limits, divided as follows:
Milton
27
Quincy .....
. . .2
Newton
... .4
Brookline
1
Somerville
24
Radio Broadcasts.
On March 14, 1934, a series of weekly broadcasts
was inaugurated from Radio Station WBZ, in which
the Fire Commissioner, Chief of Department, various
deputy and district chiefs, as well as heads of branch
services participated. During the course of these talks,
which continued for a period of approximately ten to
twelve weeks, special emphasis was given to the exces-
Fire Department. 7
sive cost of fire and the necessity of co-operation by the
pubHc to assist in reducing the number of fires and the
fire loss, and general information given to the public as
to how the department functions.
Fire Alarm Service.
During the year the Fire Alarm Service has been
maintained at its usual high standard of efficiency.
In so far as appropriations of the department would
permit, additions and extensions were made to the
service to keep it modern and up-to-date. The cable
system was not extended as much as usual but several
old underground cables were replaced by new; line con-
struction was considerably improved, and much old
wiring in department houses was replaced.
Twenty-five fire alarm boxes were installed in new
locations and one hundred old sector boxes were replaced
by boxes of the latest type. Fifteen new posts were
installed, two were relocated and 2,440 feet of ducts
were laid underground. A new circuit was run to
connect Boston fire alarm headquarters with the central
fire station in Everett. Eight adjoining cities and
towns are now connected to Boston for mutual aid
purposes.
Additional equipment for 40 box circuits, including
relay boards, storage battery boards, registers, time
stamps and protectors were installed in the operating
room at fire alarm headquarters. All the old style
electro-mechanical protectors were removed and new
approved protectors installed.
Operating Records.
First alarms ....
5,952
Second alarms ....
75
Third alarms ....
19
Fourth alarms
7
Fifth alarms ....
I
Box Alarms Received but not Transmitted.
Same box received two or more times for same fire . 495
Adjacent boxes received for same fire .... 314
Received from boxes but treated as stills ... 21
830
8 City Document No. 12.
Still Alarms Received and Transmitted,
Received from citizens by telephone .... 2,700
Received from Police Department by telephone . . 263
Received from Fire Department stations . . . 1,113
Received from boxes but treated as stills ... 21
Mutual aid alarms (adjacent cities and towns) treated
as stills 58
Emergency service treated as stills .... 220
4,375
Still alarms received by telephone for which box alarms
were afterwards received and transmitted . . 206
Still alarms received by telephone from which box
alarms, not received, were transmitted (11 p. m.
to 7 a. m.) 345
Automatic and A. D. T. Alarms.
Boston Automatic Fire Alarm Company:
Transmitted by company to this department . . 145
Box alarms received and transmitted after automatic
alarms had been struck 8
Box alarms not received but transmitted after
automatic alarm had been struck (11 p. m. to
7 a. m.) 37
Automatic alarms received at fire alarm office but
not transmitted 6
American District Telegraph Company:
Transmitted by company to this department . . 152
Box alarms received and transmitted after A. D. T.
alarms had been struck 7
Box alarms not received but transmitted after
A. D. T. alarms had been struck (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) 29
A. D. T. alarms received at fire alarm office but not
transmitted 18
Summary of Alarms.
Alarms received:
Box alarms received and struck .... 5,541
Box alarms received but not struck .... 830
Multiple alarms • . 102
Still alarms — all classes . . . . . . 4,375
Boston automatic alarms 145
A. D. T. alarms 152
Box alarms not received but transmitted (11 p. m.
to 7 a. m.)
FiEE Department.
Exclude following:
Multiples r
Box alarms received but not transmitted .
Still alarms for which other alarms were trans
mitted
Automatic alarms for which other alarms were
transmitted
Automatic alarms received but not transmitted
A. D. T. alarms for which other alarms were trans
mitted
A. D. T. alarms received but not transmitted
102
830
551
45
6
36
18
1,588
Total alarms, with eliminations, to which apparatus
responded :
First alarms 5,952
Still alarms 3,824
Automatic alarms . 94
A. D. T. alarms 98
9,968
Multiple Alarm Fires.
With two alarms
With three alarms
With four alarms
With five alarms
56
12
6
1
To Milton .
To Quincy .
To Newton
To Brookline
To Somerville
Mutual Aid Response.
27
2
4
1
24
Fire Alarm Box Records.
Boxes from which no alarms were received .
Box tests and inspections ....
439
10,457
Note. — All street box doors are tested weekly.
False Alarms,
Box alarms received and struck
Box alarms received but not struck
Box alarms treated as stills
Telephone
A. D. T
Automatic
1,816
26
20
38
4
3
1,907
10
City Document No. 12.
Alarm Service.
Of the 5,541 box alarms received and transmitted to
the department 1,816 were false, about 33 per cent.
This compares with 5,152 received in 1933 with 1,541
false, about 30 per cent. The Police Department made
56 arrests of persons sounding false alarms and obtained
41 convictions in court. The system functioned in a
satisfactory manner.
Total number
1,670
Owned by Fire Department . . . . '.
1,214
Owned by School Buildings Department
259
Owned by Boston Automatic Fire Alarm Company
47
Privately owned
150
Total boxes on posts
836
Total boxes on poles
470
Total boxes on buildings .
182
Total boxes in buildings .
182
Fire Department Boxes.
On box posts 765
On poles
427
On buildings
17
In buildings
5
Equipped with keyless doors .
533
Equipped with quick-action doors .
681
Equipped with auxiliary attachments
3
Succession type
970
Designated by red lights 882
SCHOOLHOUSE BoXES.
On box posts 68
On poles
28
On buildings . . . .
105
In buildings
58
Equipped with keyless doors .
171
Equipped with quick-action doors .
41
Equipped with key doors
47
Equipped with auxiliary attachments
255
Succession type
161
Designated by red lights 62
Boston Automatic Fire Alarm Boxes.
On poles 3
On buildings 16
In buildings
28
Fire Department.
11
Equipped with keyless doors .
Equipped with quick-action doors .
Equipped with key doors
Equipped with auxihary attachments
Succession type
Private Boxes
On posts
On poles . . . .
On buildings . . . .
In buildings
Equipped with keyless doors .
Equipped with quick-action doors .
Equipped with key doors
Equipped with auxiliary attachments
Succession type
Designated by red lights .
Fire Alarm Boxes in Districts.
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
97
73
46
88
75
102
105
132
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
Division 1 . . .379
Division 2 ... 489
Division 3 . . . 801
Also one box in Chelsea.
23
4
20
47
7
3
12
44
91
54
49
47
23
105
1
114
139
150
107
170
148
123
Summary of Work Done. Feet.
Line wire used in new work (approximately) . . 12,000
Line wire used for replacements (approximately) . 73,315
Aerial cable installed new work 3,475
Conductors in same 14,050
Aerial cable replaced 2,355
Conductors in same 4,710
Underground cable installed, new work . •. . 11,106
Conductors in same 50,394
Underground cable replaced 11,083
Conductors in same 208,935
Underground cable removed from service . . . 2,944
Conductors in same 82,773
Submarine cable replaced 675
Conductors in same 10,800
Conduits laid underground 2,367
Ducts in same , 2,440
12
City Document No. 12.
Ducts abandoned. Owned by department .
Ducts abandoned — New England Telephone and
Telegraph Company ....
Manholes built
Handholes built
Fire alarm boxes installed by Fire Department
Fire alarm boxes installed by School Buildings De
partment
Fire alarm boxes installed on private property
Fire alarm boxes relocated ....
Fire alarm boxes removed from service
Box posts installed
Box posts relocated
Box posts reset or replaced by new
Cable posts installed, large size
Cable posts removed, small size . .
Cable post replaced with new
Underground cable boxes (attached to poles) in-
stalled
Underground cable boxes removed from service
Feet.
518
1,557
1
2
20
2
1
2
5
15
2
7
3
2
1
2
1
WIRE DIVISION.
The regular and periodical inspections of all perma-
nent electrical installations in theaters, places of
amusement and public halls were carried on during
the year, together with inspections of new installations
and changes in electrical work. Particular attention
was given to the inspection of old electrical installations
throughout the city as a fire prevention measure.
Thorough investigations were made of all fires, accidents
and troubles reported due to electricity and reports
are on file in the Wire Division.
Following is a table showing a summary of the work
of the interior division of the Wire Division for 1934:
Notices of new work received
Number of permits issued to turn on current
Number of incandescent lamps inspected
Number of motors inspected ....
Number of inspections made ....
Number of inspections made of theaters, places
of amusement and public halls
14,059
10,781
2,161,918
15,791
29,740
1,462
During the year there were ninety-five fires in build-
ings, twenty manhole troubles, sixteen fires on poles
and seven miscellaneous troubles investigated.
Fire Department. 13
Exterior Division.
The underground district for the year 1934, as pre-
scribed under the authority of chapter 101 of the Acts
of 1931, comprised the following streets:
Jamaica Plain. — South Huntington avenue, from Centre
street to Floy dell street.
Dorchester. — Fessenden street, from Blue Hill avenue to
Norfolk street; Woodrow avenue, from Blue Hill avenue to
Norfolk street; Geneva avenue, from Vinson street to Park
street.
Charlestoivn. — Devens street, from Main street to Ruther-
ford avenue.
West Roxbury. — Hyde Park avenue, from Forest Hills square
to Metropolitan avenue.
East Boston. — Cottage street, from Marginal street to
Porter street.
Making a total distance of four miles as prescribed
by law.
In these prescribed streets from which poles and
wires were to be removed there was standing on January
1, 1935, two hundred and eight (208) poles and two
hundred ninety-three thousand, nine hundred and
twenty six (293,926) feet of wire, not including trolley
wires and poles which are exempt by law.
During the past year the inspectors of this Division
have reported one hundred and fifty (150) poles decayed
at base and seventeen (17) poles badly leaning, which
were replaced or reset by the various companies at
the request of this department.
The following table shows the overhead work for
the year from January 1, 1934, to December 31, 1934,
inclusive.
Number of poles set in new locations .
Number of poles replaced, reset or straightened
Number of poles removed ....
Number of poles now standing
Number of defects reported ....
Number of defects corrected ....
(Other defects in process of correction.)
Number of notices of overhead construction
Number of overhead inspactions
Number of overhead reports ....
Amount of wires in feet removed by owners
4
750
149
17,594
2,340
1,206
2,903
20,539
24,017
606,656
14
City Document No. 12.
Underground Construction.
The ducts used for the underground of the drawing
in systems are of the following type:
1. Vitrified clay (laid in concrete).
2. Fiber (laid in concrete).
3. Iron pipe.
4. Wood.
In side or residential streets special underground
construction for electric light and power purposes
(110 and 220 volts) of the type known as the ''Split
Fiber Solid System" has also been installed.
The electrical approvals for underground electrical
construction numbered 2,299.
Number of inspections of underground electrical
construction 2,869
Number of reports of underground electrical construc-
tion 6,124
Table Showing Underground Work for the Year 1934.
Company.
■5
g
1
Q
PR
fe.H
■^ t
§02
Boston Elevated Railway Com-
pany.
Boston Consolidated Gas Com-
pany.
Edison Electric Illuminating Com-
pany.
Fire Alarm Branch (B. F. D.)
New England Telephone & Tele-
graph Company.
Police Signal Service (B. P. D.) . . .
■ 7,066
2,573
28,088
1,716
7,451
131
27,669
4,423
185,188
1,716
37,176
131
36,962
25,255
549,893
11,106
89,549
27
114
9
101
1,436
25
26
14
5,289
pany.
Totals
47,025
256,303
718,054
150
1,602
Note. — "Split Fiber Solid Main System" of Edison Electric Illuminating Company is
included in the above figures, comprising 30 feet of conduit and 58 feet of duct.
Fire Department,
15
Table Showing the Amount
and Distribution of
Boston
s Electrical Power
Company.
Capacity of
Incandescent
Lamps in
Kilowatts.
c
"o
& o
o
a °
Boston Elevated Railway Company . . .
Boston Consolidated Gas Company. . . .
24,360
241,287
3,522
3,000
*
125
106
15
300
*
222,344
6,000
75
106
48,930
2,000
*
200
14
2
Edison Electric Illuminating Company,
45,984
400
620
292,816
359
400
6
1
2
Totals
71,364
534,862
6,753
315
228,525
51,1.30
25
* Unknown. (Meter capacity connected to lines of Edison system 1,130,559.)
False Alarms.
It will be noted elsewhere in this report that of 5,541
box alarms received and transmitted during the year,
1,816 were false. We have made a thorough study of
this evil which has spread throughout the city during
the past few years, and while in the past the false
sounding of alarms of fire could be attributed to small
children it has now grown to be a pernicious sport
indulged in by adults. Considerable difficulty has been
experienced in checking a further spread of this epidemic
and I have given the matter my personal attention and
study. Through the generous cooperation of the Super-
intendent of Schools it was possible for me to send a
fire department representative to every school in the
city during Fire Prevention Weeks in October. In their
talks to the children these representatives devoted con-
siderable time to impressing on the minds of the pupils
the seriousness of sounding false alarms. The press
and radio gladly gave space and time in our campaign
to combat this evil and every opportunity was taken
advantage of to send a message through the daily papers
and over the air in order to reach every home in the
city. Many addresses were made over the radio dur-
ing the year on the fire department and fire prevention,
and on every occasion an appeal was made to our
listeners to cooperate with us in fighting this crime.
I took the matter up personally with the Police
Commissioner and every justice of the municipal court,
16 City Document No. 12.
giving certain facts and figures based on the result of
my study so that they would be well informed on the
subject. I received expressions of hearty cooperation
from both these law enforcement agencies.
I propose to continue this campaign to reduce the
number of false alarms and will use all the facilities at
my disposal to bring about the desired result.
Recommendations.
Considerable thought and study have been given to
certain necessary improvements which if adopted will
greatly increase the efficiency of the department. Being
aware of the present financial condition of the city,
I believe that it is unnecessary here to go into a
detailed outline of these improvements as most of them
require large expenditures of money. In accordance
with instructions from your Honor a program has
been arranged and submitted to the Federal Emer-
gency Relief Administration for consideration. This
program includes recommendations for the rebuilding
and consolidation of some of our fire stations and for
the purchase of new fireboats for waterfront protec-
tion. The recommendations submitted to the Relief
Administration are all for much needed improvements
and it is hoped that they will all receive favorable
consideration.
Peesonnel.
During the past few years the personnel of the depart-
ment has been reduced to a great extent by not
filling vacancies and not making promotions. Such a
policy cannot continue much longer as it will be neces-
sary in the near future to fill some of these vacancies
by the appointment of new men to the department in
order that the fire-fighting force of the department may
be maintained at an efficient operating strength.
FiEE Apparatus.
In order to cooperate with your Honor's pohcy for
economic administration of all departments the Fire
Department purchased no major apparatus in 1933 and
1934. Very little was purchased in 1932. The fife of
motor fire apparatus may be compared with the life of
any automobile with consideration being given to the
Fire Department. 17
amount of service demanded of each piece of apparatus.
The average Ufe of iire apparatus is from ten to thirteen
years and it has been the poHcy of the department to
replace a certain percentage of apparatus each year
in order to keep our roUing stock in first-class condition.
Under the capable and intelligent management of our
Maintenance Division it has been possible to keep our
equipment in proper working condition. However, we
have many pieces that have now gone far beyond the
average age and are rapidly reaching a condition that
will not permit of further repairs. I recommend there-
fore in the consideration of the 1935 budget, and budgets
for succeeding years, that consideration be given to a
continuance of the policy of making a certain per-
centage of our replacements in major apparatus.
Yours very truly,
Edward F. McLaughlin,
Fire Commissioner.
18
City Document No. 12.
RECAPITULATION OF EXPENDITURES, 1934.
Fire Department $3,677,085 02
Wire Division 84,454 34
Extension of Fire Alarm Signal Station . . 46,741 00
5,808,280 36
ANNUAL REPORT OF REVENUE, BOSTON FIRE
DEPARTMENT. YEAR OF 1934. '
Permits for fires in open spaces; fireworks; blast-
ing; transportation and storage of explosives;
garage and gasoline storage; oil burners, etc
Sale of old material (condemned hose)
Sale of old material (junk)
Sale of badges
Damage to property
Damage to fire alarm boxes and posts
Damage to fire apparatus
Miscellaneous sales ....
ers, etc.
$20,393 25
163 34
1,192 76
372 30
63 58
1,099 13
163 10
85 75
$23,533 21
Fire Department. 19
CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT.
Henry A. Fox.
The chief is in charge of the fire protection of the
city, which is divided into three divisions, each com-
manded by a deputy chief, which are subdivided into
fifteen districts, each commanded by a district chief.
Division 1.
Deputy Chiefs, John J. Kenney and Louis C.
Stickel.
Headquarters, Ladder House 8, Fort Hill Square.
This division comprises Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
District 1.
District Chiefs, Napeen Boutilier and William F.
Donovan.
Headquarters, Ladder House 2, Paris Street,
East Boston.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 5, 9, 11,
40, 47 (fireboat). Ladders 2, 21, 31.
District 2.
District Chiefs, Philip A. Tague and Michael J.
Aylward,
Headquarters, Engine House 50, Winthrop Street,
Charlestown.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 27, 32, 36,
50, Ladders 9, 22, Rescue 3.
District 3.
District Chief, William A. Donovan.
Headquarters, Ladder House 18, Pittsburgh Street.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 25, 38,
39, 44 (fireboat), Ladders 8, 18, Water Towers 1 and 3.
District 4-
District Chiefs, John F. McDonough and James F.
Sheehan.
Headquarters, Engine House 4, Bulfinch Street.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 4, 6, 8,
31 (fireboat). Ladders 1, 24.
20 City Document No. 12.
District 5.
District Chiefs, John F. Watson and Dennis J.
COUGHLIN.
Headquarters, Engine House 26-35, Broadway.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 7, 10, 26,
35, Ladder 17, Rescue 1, Water Tower 2.
Division 2.
Deputy Chiefs, Thomas H. Downey and William F,
QUIGLEY.
Headquarters, Engine House 22, Warren Avenue.
This division comprises Districts 6, 7, 8, 11.
District 6.
District Chiefs, James J. Kane and Edward G.
Chamberlain.
Headquarters, Engine House 1, Dorchester Street,
South Boston.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 1, 2, 15,
43, Ladders 5, 19, 20.
District 7.
District Chief, Michael F. Minehan.
Headquarters, Engine House 22, Warren Avenue.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 3, 22, 33,
Ladders 3, 13, 15.
District 8.
District Chiefs, Daniel Martell and Charles H.
McDonnell.
Headquarters, Ladder House 12, Tremont Street.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 13, 14,
37, Ladders 12, 26.
District 11.
District Chiefs, Thomas H. Andreoli and Joseph W.
Shea.
Headquarters, Engine House 41, Harvard Avenue,
Brighton.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 29, 34, 41,
51, Ladders 11, 14.
Fire Depaetment. 21
Division 3.
Deputy Chiefs, Walter M. McLean and Frank A.
Sweeney.
Headquarters, Ladder House 23, Washington Street,
Grove Hall.
This division comprises Districts 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15.
District 9.
District Chiefs, William H. McCorkle and Edward
J. Locke.
Headquarters, Engine House 12, Dudley Street.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 12, 23, 24,
Ladders 4, 23, Rescue 2.
District 10.
District Chiefs, Daniel J. Hurley and Edward N.
Montgomery.
Headquarters, Engine House 17, Parish Street,
Meeting House Hill.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 17, 18, 21
Ladder 7.
District 12.
District Chiefs, Timothy F. Donovan and Thomas F
Ward.
Headquarters, Engine House 28, Centre Street,
Jamaica Plain.
Apparatus Located in the District.— Engines 28, 42, 53,
Ladders 10, 30.
District 13.
District Chiefs, Charles A. Donohoe and Edward F.
McCarthy.
Headquarters, Engine House 45, Corner Washington
and Poplar Streets, Roslindale.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 30, 45,
Ladders 16, 25.
District 11^..
District Chiefs, James Mahoney and Walter C. Glynn.
Headquarters, Engine House 46, Peabody Square,
Dorchester.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 16, 20,
46, 52, Ladders 6, 27, 29.
22
City Document No. 12.
District 15.
District Chiefs, William Hart and Allen J. Jarvis.
Headquarters, Engine House 48, Corner Harvard
Avenue and Winthrop Street, Hyde Park.
Apparatus Located in the District. — Engines 19, 48,
49, Ladder 28.
Alarms.
Building fires 3,761
Automobile fires
Rubbish, vacant lot .
Rubbish near building
Dump
Brush or grass .
Other outdoor fires .
False .
Accidental
Needless
Rescue
Marine
Out of city calls
Total alarms
Fire resistive
Second class
Frame .
Other types
Total .
Basement .
First floor .
Second floor
Third floor .
Above third floor
Roof .
Outside
Total .
FiEES IN Buildings.
Construction of Bvildings.
Point of Origin.
908
304
147
159
733
646
1,879
293
747
296
28
74
9,975
215
1,888
1,647
11
3,761
1,251
1,121
506
272
131
131
349
3,761
Extent of Fire.
Confined to point of origin
Confined to buildings
Spread to other buildings
3,085
612
64
Total
3,761
Fire Department.
23
Causes of Fires in Buildings.
Chimneys, soot burning .
490
Defective chimney .
61
Sparks from chimney
60
Defectively installed heater
145
Rubbish near heater
74
Hot ashes . ....
89
Fuel oil burners
238
Starting fires, kerosene or gasohne
1
Careless smoking
935
Children and matches
206
Other careless use of matches .
178
Defective wiring
85
Electric appliances and motors
209
Home dry cleaning .
5
Flammable liquids near flame .
44
Kerosene lamps, stoves
38
Grease, food on stove
119
Clothes, furniture too near fire
51
Spontaneous ignition
141
Fireworks
59
Thawing water pipes
81
Sparks from machines
15
City gas and apphances .
40
Miscellaneous known causes .
144
Incendiary or suspicious .
85
Unknown
168
Total
3,761
24
City Document No. 12.
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Fire Department.
27
Causes of Fires and Alarms, from January 1,
1934, TO January 1, 1935.
Automobile
Rubbish, vacant lot
Rubbish near buildin
Dump .
Brush or grass
Other outdoor fires
False .
Accidental .
Needless bell and still
Rescue
Marine
Out of city calls
Chimneys, soot burning
Defective chimney .
Sparks from chimney
Defectively installed
heater
Rubbish near heater
Hot ashes .
Fuel oil burners
Starting fires, kerosene
gasoline .
Careless smoking
Children and matches
908
304
147
159
733
646
1,879
293
747
296
28
74
490
61
60
145
74
89
238
1
935
206
Other careless use of
matches . . . . 178
Defective wiring . . 85
Electric appliances and
motors . . . 209
Home dry cleaning . . 5
Flammable liquids near
flame .... 44
Kerosene lamps, stoves . 38
Grease, food on stove . 119
Clothes, furniture, too
near fire .... 51
Spontaneous ignition . 141
Fireworks .... 59
Thawing water pipes . 81
Sparks from machines . 15
City gas and appliances . 40
Miscellaneous known
causes .... 144
Incendiary or suspicious . 85
Unknown .... 168
Total . . . . 9,975
Fires Extinguished By
1934.
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27
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22
21
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24
23
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35
179
226
152
114
124
102
133
95
56
112
134
208
10
9
5
6
9
13
9
7
2
2
5
1
73
74
47
38
29
26
43
32
26
38
41
65
50
50
43
41
52
29
29
19
42
32
50
66
21
February
35
March
16
April
17
May
15
20
July
18
August
11
September
11
October
13
November
13
December
23
Totals
478
322
1,635
78
532
503
213
28
City Document No. 12.
Alarms for the Past Ten Years.
Yeab.
Bell.
Still
and
Automatic.
Totals.
1934
5,952
5,496
5,587
4,727
4,601
4,473
3,867
3,492
3,762
3,798
4,023
3,597
3,808
3,934
3,808
3,979
3,829
3,840
4,108
3,904
9,975
1933
9,093
1932
9,395
1931
8,661
1930
8,409
1929
8,452
1928
7,696
1927
7,332
7,870
1925
7,702
Each fire is treated as having only one alarm.
Fires Where Losses Exceeded $15,000.
Date.
Location and Owner.
Loss.
1934.
Jan.
2
50 Washington street, L. K. Liggett Company et al. . . .
121,168 98
Jan.
5
Fenway Park, Boston American League Baseball
Club et al.
224,875 22
Jan.
16
53 and 55 Portland street, Diemont Levy Company
etal.
16,157 49
Jan.
18
2214-2224 Washington street, Blair's Market etal
26,294 40
Jan.
19
101 and 103 State street, Thomas Groom & Co. etal.. .
94,367 73
Jan.
20
54-64 Chardon street, Keystone Furniture Company
etal.
32,187 28
Feb
9. ...
17,136 47
Feb
26 '. .
h 20
h 25
31,915 50
16,314 69
5 and 7 Poplar street, F. Sikora et al
17,924 88
May
5
104-114 Lincoln street. Old Mill Paper Products Cor-
poration et al.
28,234 63
15
37 Simmons street, E. Goldman et al. . . . .
15,355 29
July
28
333 Medford street. Revere Sugar Refinery
45,966 59
Sept.
9
508-520 Boylston street. Hotel Brunswick, Inc
50,823 68
Oct.
18
5 and 6 Fulton place, F. W. Baldau & Co. et al
19,861 90
Nov.
12
2321-2337 Washington street, Wellworth Market,
Inc. et al.
63,702 59
Dec.
10
37 and 39 Lewis Wharf, Kraft-Phenix Cheese Cor-
poration et al.
43,795 00
Dec.
17
104-114 Lincoln street, Katz-Reisman Shoe Company,
Inc. et al.
21,795 22
Dec.
27
17 Elm street. Central Congregational Church et al. . . .
79,575 00
Fire Department.
29
Statistics.
Population, January 1, 1935 (estimated)
Area, square miles
Number brick, etc., buildings
Number of wooden buildings
Fires in brick, etc., buildings
Fires in wooden buildings
Fires out of city
Not in buildings, false and needless
795,256
47.81
2,103
44,062
93,726
1,658
74
6,140
Q Q7c;
Fire Loss for the Year Ending December 31, 1934.
Buildings, loss insured $1,607,397 90
Contents, loss insured 724,882 19
Total loss
insure
d
■
$2,332,280 09
Marine loss
•
$317,960 00
Yearly
Loss
FOR THE Last
Fifteen Years.
Year ending January
^ 1, 1921 .
$3,139,566 00
u
«
a
, 1922 .
4,010,201 00
u
u
a
1923 .
3,304,595 00
u
u
a
1924 .
6,286,299 00
u
u
u
1925 . .
4,735,595 00
u
u
u
1926 .
5,407,070 00
u
u
u
-'-
1927 .
5,199,965 00
u
u
u
-'-
1928 .
3,694,642 00
u
ti
ii
-'•
1929 .
3,887,250 00
u
u
u
^1
1930 .
4,129,926 00
u
u
u
^)
1931 .
4,593,622 00
u
u
u
^
1932 .
4,115,419 00
u
u
u
^!
1933 .
4,240,168 00
u
u
u
^)
1934 .
2,359,806 00
u
u
a
^
1935 .
2,332,280 00
30
City Document No. 12.
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31
John E. Fitzgerald Medal.
John J. Leary, for 1922.
Daniel J. O'Brien, for 1923.
Thomas F. Kilduff, for 1924.
Dennis M. Condon, for 1927.
Joseph P. Hanton, for 1929.
Walter Scott Medal.
Dennis M. Condon, for 1922.
James H. Curran, for 1923.
Edward J. Crowley, for 1924.
Gilbert W. Jones, for 1927.
John J. Boyle, for 1929.
Roll of Merit.
Carl V. Anderson.
Carl S. Bowers.
James J. Buchanan.
WiUiam O. Cheswell.
Dennis M. Condon.
Walter P. Corbett.
Michael J. Dacy.
James E. Downey.
Thomas H. Downey.
Dennis Driscoll.
Joseph P. Hanton.
Timothy J. Heffron.
Gilbert W. Jones.
Henry J. Kelly.
Martin A. Kenealy.
John J. Kennedy.
Frederick F. Leary.
John J. Martin.
Edward McDonough.
James F. McMahon.
Thomas J. Muldoon.
Edward J. Murphy.
Arthur A. Ryan.
John A. O'Connor.
Michael J. Teehan.
William C. Jeffers.
CITY OF BOSTON PRINTING DEPARTMENT
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