Annual report

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 9999 06316 862 7

[Document No. 11 — 1962.]

t i>

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS DEPARTMENT

APR 101989

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

FIRE DEPARTMENT

FOR THE YEAR 1961.

Boston, February 1, 1962.

Hon. John F. Collins,

Mai/ or 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, 1961.

During the period covered by this document Mr.
Henry A. Scagnoli was Fire Commissioner from January
1, 1961, to July 12, 1961. I was appointed to the office
of Fire Commissioner on July 13, 1961.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas J. Griffin,

Fire Commissioner.

H ISTOR Y

FIRE COMMISSIONERS

H874-1876. Alfred P. Rockwell.
1877-1879. David Chamberlain.
1879-1883. John E. Fitzgerald.
1883-1885. Henry W. Longley.
1885-1886. John E. Fitzgerald.
1886-1895. Robert G. Fitch.
1895-1905. Henry S. Russell.
1905. Patrick J. Kennedy.

(Acting February 17— March 20.)
1905-1908. Benjamin W. Wells.
1908-1910. Samuel D. Parker.
1910. Francis M. Carroll.

(Acting May 27 — September 16.)
1910-1912. Charles C. Daly.
1912-1914. Charles H. Cole.
1914-1919. John Grady.
1919-1921. John R. Murphy.
1921-1922. Joseph P. Manning.

(Acting Nov. 8, 1921— April 1, 1922.)
1922. William J. Casey.

(Acting April 1 — August 24.)

1922-1925. Theodore A. Glynn.
1926. Thomas F. Sullivan.

(Acting January 26 — July 6.)
1926-1930. Eugene C. Hultman.
1930-1933. Edward F. McLaughlin.
1933-1934 Eugene M. McSweeney.

(October 16, 1933— January 5, 1934.)
1934-1938. Edward F. McLaughlin.
1938-1945. William Arthur Reilly.
1945-1946. John I. Fitzgerald.

(June 7, 1945— January 7, 1946.)
1946-1950. Russell S. Codman, Jr.
1950-1953. Michael T. Kelleher.
1953-1954. John F. Cotter.
1954-1959. Francis X. Cotter.
1959. Timothy J. O'Connor.

(March 2— December 31.)
1960-1961 Henry A. Scagnoli.
1961- Thomas J. Griffin

(From July 13, 1961.)

CHIEFS OF DEPARTMENT

1826-1828. Samuel D. Harris.

1829-1835. Thomas C. Amory.

1836-1853. William Barnicoat.

1854-1855. Elisha Smith, Jr.

1856-1865. George W. Bird.

1866-1874. John S. Damrell.

1874-1884. William A. Green.

1884-1901. Louis P. Webber.

1901-1906. William T. Cheswell.

1906-1914. John A. Mullen.

1914. John Grady. (1 day.)

1914-1919. Peter F. McDonough.

1919-1922. Peter E. Walsh.

1922-1924. John O. Taber.

1925-1930. Daniel F. Sennott.

1930-1936. Henry A. Fox.

1936-1946. Samuel J. Pope.

1946-1948. Napeen Boutilier.

1948-1950. John F. McDonough.

1950-1956. John V. Stapleton.

1956. Edward N. Montgomery.
(June 6 — September 5.)

1956-1960. Leo C. Driscoll.

1960- John A. Martin.

(From February 1, 1960.)

* Previous to 1874, the Boston Fire Department was in charge of the Chief Engineer.

Fire Department 3

SPECIAL COMMENTS

/ . Fires

During 1961 there were 1,994 fires in buildings. The
foregoing is a decrease from the number of building
fires which occurred in 1960.

2. Fire Prevention

During the year 1961 the department was awarded a
plaque by the National Fire Protection Association for
placing first in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
third among municipalities of over 500,000 in the
United States, and fifth among all cities in the nation
in a National Fire Prevention Contest held during the
year 1960. This, of course, means that we are at the
top among cities of the United States in fire prevention
activities.

The intense campaign to educate the public in the
use of space heaters has been continued. Only one
death has been recorded from fires caused by space
heaters during the year 1961. During 1959 twelve
deaths were caused by defective space heaters, and in
1960 two persons died from this cause.

A microfilm photographic unit was installed in the
Fire Prevention Division during the year, reducing the
space required for the keeping of thousands of inspection
reports and other records.

3. Building Plans

With the cooperation of the Building Commissioner,
the Fire Department has been examining all plans for
alterations in existing buildings and for new building
construction in the city to insure compliance with all
fire regulations prior to the issuance of a building permit
by the Building Department. During the year 1961
the Fire Prevention Division has examined and ap-
proved, or disapproved, approximately 1,000 plans
which were submitted by architects and engineers prior
to the issuance of a building permit. As a result of the
examination of building plans, it is felt that buildings
being altered or erected in the City of Boston will be
much safer from a fire prevention point of view than was
previously the case. Many recommendations were
made bearing on fire safety such as the installation of
automatic sprinklers, heat detectors, local fire alarm
systems in buildings of hazardous occupancy, dormi-
tories, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals.

4 City Document No. 11

4 . Fire Stations A bandoned

On July 1, 1961, the following fire stations were
vacated by the Fire Department, and the companies
quartered therein were relocated, with the exception
of Engine Company 27, which was deactivated:

Engine Squad 11, Ladder Company 21 — 761 Sara-
toga Street, East Boston.

Engine Company 27, Ladder Company 9 — 333
Main Street, Charlestown.

Engine Company 43, Ladder Company 20 — 5 Boston
Street, South Boston.

Engine Squad 11 was transferred to the quarters of
Engine Company 5 at 360 Saratoga Street, while Ladder
Company 21 was housed with Engine Company 56 at
1 Ashley Street.

Ladder Company 9 was relocated in the quarters of
Engine Company 32 at 440 Bunker Hill Street, Charles-
town, while Engine Company 43 and Ladder Company
20 were relocated in the fire station at 900 Massachusetts
Avenue.

The foregoing relocations are in line with the con-
solidation program of the department and will result
in the saving of several thousand dollars annually.
The relocation of fire fighters and apparatus has not
impaired the operating efficiency of the department,
and maximum protection is still afforded to the sections
of the city in which the changes were made.

•5. Training Activities

During the year all officers and members of the Fire
Department were given advanced training in fire-
fighting operations at the Fire Academy on Moon Island.
Over 2,700 members of the Boston Police Department
also received instructions in fire prevention and the
protection of life and property against the scourge of
fire. Key personnel in hospitals, schools, United States
Coast Guard, Boston Naval Shipyard, oil companies,
industrial plants, and many others received instructions
in basic fire safety and fire fighting at the academy.

6. Fire Apparatus

Contracts were awarded in November of 1961 for the
furnishing of ten pumping engines, four 100-foot aerial
ladder trucks, and two 85-foot aerial ladder trucks to
replace old and obsolete equipment. This apparatus
when placed in service will increase our operating
efficiencv at fires and other emergencies.

3x1 Jflemortam

Deaths of Active Members During 1961

January 20

Arnold N. Reis

Fire Fighter, Engine Company 3

January 23
Richard F. Concannon
Fire Fighter, Ladder Company 15

February 12

Harry W. Murphy

District Chief, District 4

March 13

John D. Casey

Fire Fighter, Engine Company 40

April 22

Charles E. Doherty

Storekeeper, Maintenance Division

May 12

Daniel A. Collins

Fire Fighter, Fire Prevention Division

June 6

Henry M. Durand

Fire Fighter, Engine Squad 18

July 12

Edward P. Conley

Fire Fighter, Engine Company 53

July 14

Charles J. Hurley

Fire Fighter, Engine Company 8

August 15

Hugh E. MacKinnon

Fire Fighter, Ladder Company 18

September 29

William F. Burke

Fire Fighter, Ladder Company 11

October 30

John P. Manning

Senior Fire Alarm Operator, Fire Alarm Division

6 City Document No. 11

November 30
Carl S. Bowers
District Chief, Headquarters Division

December 4

Ralph L. Mullen

Fire Fighter, Engine Company 54

December 16

William J. McMahon

Fire Fighter, Second Engineer, Engine Company 47

December 25

Joseph P. Doyle

Fire Fighter, Headquarters Division

PERSONNEL

City Document No. 11

BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
1961

Fire Commissioner, Henry A. Scagnoli, to July 13,
1961.
Thomas J. Griffin, from July 13, 1961.

Chief of Department, John A. Martin, from February 1,
1960.

Executive Secretary, William D. Slattery.

Medical Examiner, Edward H. Hommel, M.D.

Assistant Fire Chief in Charge of Fire Prevention Divi-
sion, John E. Clougherty.

Assistant Fire Chief-Chief of Staff, John F. Howard.

Assistant Fire Chief in Charge of Fire-Fighting Force,
Personnel, and Training, William A. Terrenzi.

Superintendent of Fire Alarm Division, Albert L.
O'Banion, to September 5, 1961.
J. Edward Latjghlin, Temporary Superintendent,
from September 13, 1961.

Superintendent of Maintenance Division, Thomas F.
Connors.

Chaplains, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. McManmon
(Catholic) ; Rev. John E. Barclay (Protestant) ;
Rabbi Samuel I. Korff (Jewish).

Fire Department

MEDAL OF HONOR MEN
BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT— 196!

"John E. Fitzgerald Medal."

Awarded to Fire Fighter James J. Loftus, Ladder
Company 10.

" Walter Scott Medal for Valor. "
Awarded to Fire Fighter John G. Kenney, Ladder
Company 26.

"Patrick J. Kennedy Medal."
Awarded to Fire Captain Thomas P. Maguire, Engine
Company 12.

ROLL OF MERIT — 1961

Fire Fighter Leonard A. D'Amico, Engine Company 12.

Fire Fighters Francis E. Callahan and Francis J.
Troy, Ladder Company 24.

Fire Fighter Robert F. Mackey, Engine Company 3.

Fire Fighters Felix F. Cosgrove and Richard T.
O'Donnell, Engine Company 2.

Fire Fighter Joseph A. Desmond, Ladder Company 15.

Fire Fighter Warren J. Cudmore, Ladder Company 18.

Fire Fighter William J. O'Brien, Ladder Company 26.

APPOINTMENTS — 1961
(Fire=Fighting Division)

Date

Name

Assignment

Jan. 18

Thomas P. Connolly

Engine Company 5

Jan. 18

John F. McGrath

Engine Company 5

Jan. 18

Russell J. Sullivan

Engine Company 9

Jan. 18

Richard C. Fergus

Engine Squad 11

Jan. 18

Gerard F. Lynch

Engine Squad 11

Jan. 18

Robert J. Clougherty

Engine Company 33

10

City Document No. 11

Date Name

Jan. 18 Ralph Larato

Jan. 18 Edward J. Kavanagh

Jan. 18 Edward J. Burke

Jan. 18 Edward Monkewicz

Jan. 18 Arthur L. Stewart

Jan. 18 Robert E. Byrne

Jan. 18 Leo W. Natale, Jr.

Jan. 18 Robert P. Sullivan

Jan. 18 James T. Barrett

Jan. 18 Robert L. Mayhew

Jan. 18 Daniel P. Murphy

Jan. 18 Joseph A. Russell

Jan. 18 William P. McDermott

Jan. 18 George F. Cataldo

Jan. 18 Richard A. Higgins

Jan. 18 Coleman V. McDonough

Jan. 18 Thomas F. McDonough

Assignment
Engine Company 33
Engine Company 36
Engine Company 40
Engine Company 40
Engine Company 40
Engine Company 41
Engine Company 41
Engine Company 41
Engine Company 50
Engine Company 50
Engine Company 50
Engine Company 50
Engine Company 52
Ladder Company 14
Ladder Company 14
Ladder Company 15
Rescue Company

REINSTATEMENT — 1961
(Fire=Fighting Division)

Date Name

Nov. 22 Dennis F. Leahy

Assignment
Engine Company 33

STATISTICS

11

12

City Document No. 11

COMPARATIVE FIRE DEPARTMENT
EXPENDITURES

Personal Services
Permanent employees
Overtime

Total Personal Services

Contractual Services

Communications ....
Light, heat, and power
Repairs and maintenance of build-
ings and structures
Repairs and servicing of equipment
Transportation of persons
Miscellaneous contractual services .

Total Contractual Services .

Supplies and Materials

Automotive supplies and materials .

Food supplies

Heating supplies and materials
Household supplies and materials .
Medical, dental, and hospital sup-
plies and materials
Office supplies and materials .
Miscellaneous supplies and materials

Total Supplies and Materials

Current Charges and Obligations
Other current charges and obliga-
tions

Total Current Charges and Obliga
tions

Equipment

Automotive equipment

Office furniture and equipment

Miscellaneous equipment

1960

1961

$11,959,661 40 $11,740,807 32
336,669 36 286,512 37

$12,296,330 76 $12,027,319 69

$37,679 86
87,429 46

$37,985 94
86,454 59

75,297 99

67,429 58

966 50

143,525 85

74,010 66

1,319 41

14,761 26

24,865 49

$283,564 65

$368,161 94

$93,667 55
1 60

$93,990 63

71,792 11

75,184 57

14,481 01

14,074 74

1,465 26

24,215 48

i 186,527 95

1,673 78

23,280 14

176,560 94

$392,150 96

$384,764 80

$13,384 81

$11,182 61

L-

$13,384 81

$11,182 61

$1,665 74

4,665 21

67,246 66

$24,225 31

Total Equipment
Department Total

$73,577 61 $24,225 31
$13,059,008 79 $12,815,654 35

Fire Department 13

FIRE DEPARTMENT REVENUE— 1961

Permits for storage of inflammable fluids, certificates of

registration, etc $250,428 20

Sale of badges . . 4 15

Commissions from New England Telephone & Telegraph

Company 3,411 83

Damage to apparatus and motor vehicles . . . 4,774 98

Damage to fire alarm boxes 4,222 45

Miscellaneous 139 13

Reimbursement from Commonwealth of Massachusetts
for expenditures for fire alarm construction work on

John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 854 11

Rental of fire stations 1,201 00

Total $265,035 85

FIRE ALARM DIVISION
1961

15

16

City Document No. 11

FIRE ALARM DIVISION

GENERAL SUMMARY OF ALARMS

TOTAL NUMBER OF ALARMS TRANSMITTED
(To Which Apparatus Responded)

1 959

1960

1961

11,541
7,517

13,462
8,377

12,963

8,191

19,058
116

20,839
137

21,154

140

19,174

20,976

21,294

TELEPHONE ALARMS

1959

I960

1961

6,395
33.3

6,842
30.6

6,746

31.7

FALSE ALARMS

1959

1960

1961

4,262
22.2

4,285
20.4

4,984

23.4

NOTE. — The first electric telegraph system for fire alarms in the world (in Boston)
cost $16,000 and consisted of 40 miles of wire, 45 signal boxes or stations, and 16 alarm
bells.

The system was officially accepted by the City of Boston at noon, April 28, 1852,
and the first alarm was received from Station 7, District 1 (now Box 1212), at 8.25 p.m.,
April 29, 1852.

Total box alarms transmitted since April 28, 1852, through December 31, 1961, 473,827

Fire Department

17

ANALYSIS OF STILL ALARMS

1959

1960

1961

6,395

742
1,305

167
2,647

139

279
7

6,842

1,059

1,545

38

2,555

182

198

16

6,746
910

1,525

55

2,539

158

Received from C. P. S.*

253
14

11,681

91
4,073

13,435

111
3,947

12,200

Deduct
Still Alarms received for which Box Alarms were
pulled after Still and Box Alarms were trans-

84

Still Alarms received for which Box Alarms were

3,925

7,517
116

8,377
137

8,191
140

* Does Not include alarms received after Still Alarm or after City Box Alarm, in
which case no action was taken.

NOTE.— NET TOTAL STILL ALARMS indicates number of alarms for which
apparatus was dispatched by telephone without BOX ALARM, and alarms for which
Private Company Box only was transmitted, without City Box alarm.

18 City Document No. 11

SUMMARY OF ALARMS — BY MONTHS— 1961

Boxes

Stills

Totals

January. . . .
February . . .

March

April

May

June

July

August

September.
October. . .
November.
December. .

Totals

1,029

873

1,133

1,158

1,099

1,007

982

1,071

982

1,204

1,246

1,179

597

1,626

472

1,345

643

1,776

702

1,860

740

1,839

746

1,753

686

1,668

827

1,898

661

1,643

702

1,906

833

2,079

722

1,899

12,963

8,331

NOTE. — Alarms received from Boston Automatic, A. D. T., C. P. S. or where Private
Company box only was transmitted, without City Box, have been included under Still
Alarms.

All alarms for Mutural Aid have been included under Still Alarms.

ORIGIN OF ALARMS

1959

I960

1961

No.

Per
Cent

No.

Per
Cent

No.

Per
Cent

7,544
6,395

91

742

1,305

139

279

7

116

2,647

39.34
33.35

0.47
3.87
6.81
0.72
1.46
0.04
0.60
13.81

8,442
6,842

111
1,059
1,545

182

198
16

137
2,555

40.26
32.62

0.52
5.05
7.37
0.87
0.94
0.07
0.65
12.18

9,009
6,746

84

910

1,525

158

253

14

140

2,539

42.31

31.68

Boxes received after telephone

0.39

4.27

7.16

C. P. S

0.74
1.19
0.07
0.66

11.92

19,174

100%

20,976

100%

21,294

1007o

Fire Department

19

SUMMARY OF ALARMS
ACCORDING TO FIRE DISTRICTS

1961

No.

Boxes

Stills

Totals

1 East Boston

696

474

1,170

2 Charlestown

523

323

846

3 North and West Ends and Business

District

752

532

1,284

4 Business District, South End and

Back Bay

1,357

775

2,132

5 Back Bay and Roxbury

2,102

884

2,986

6 South Boston

1,010

635

1,645

7 Roxbury and Dorchester North

2,110

1,002

3,112

8 Dorchester

1,149

1,099

2,248

9 Jamaica Plain and Roxbury

1,505

809

2,314

10 Roslindale, West Roxburv, and

Hyde Park

849

963

1,812

11 Brighton

910

695

1,605

Totals in Boston ....

12,963

8,191

21,154

Mutual Aid to adjacent cities and

towns

—

140

140

Totals

12,963

8,331

21,294

MUTUAL AID ALARMS

Response of BOSTON

to Outside

Cities and Towns

Response of Adjacent
Cities and Towns
to BOSTON

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961

0

18
8

12
9
4
0
0
0

1

0
13
11

6

0
32

0

0

17

10

7

6

2

1

1

0

0

0

5

16

3

0

33

1

0

27
5
9

14
5
0
1
0
1
1
5

15
3
1

29
0

0
36
12
16
10
3
0
0
0
0
0
5
22
5
1
27
0

1

40

10

16

7

6

1

0

1

0

0

11

12
1
0

33
1

0

138

9

9

52
3
0
0
0
0
0
3

31

18
1

42
4

0

125

4

2

19
1
0
0
0
0
0
2

16

10
0

42
4

0

111

7

3

18
2
0
0
0
0
0
2

18

14
0

37
9

0

135

9

5
28
2
0
0
0
0
0

1

27
15

0
51

5

0

127

8

23

3

Hull

0

0

o

o

o

1

14

9

0

45
10

114

102

116

137

140

310

225

221

278

242

20

City Document No. 11

MULTIPLE ALARM FIRES

19S7

1958

1959

1960

1961

65

26
8

2

47

23

1

2

58

14

5

2

44

21

8

1

65

13

s

0

Totals

101

73

79

74

86

SUMMARY OF MULTIPLE ALARM FIRES
ACCORDING TO MONTHS OF THE YEAR— 1961

Month

Two

Three

Four

Five

Alarms

Alarms

Alarms

Alarms

10

0

0

0

10

2

0

0

10

2

1

0

4

2

0

0

4

2

1

0

4

2

1

0

5

0

1

0

5

1

1

0

1

0

0

0

9

0

0

0

4

1

3

0

6

1

0

0

65

13

8

0

Total

January. . .
February. .
March ....

April

May

June

July

August. . . .
September.
October. . .
November.
December .

Totals .

S6

SUMMARY OF FIRE ALARM BOXES

Total number of fire alarm boxes in service as of December 31,
1960

Fire alarm boxes installed January 1, 1961, to December 31,

1961 12

Fire alarm boxes discontinued January 1, 1961, to December

31, 1961 4

Net Increase in number of fire alarm boxes.

2,127

Total number of fire alarm boxes in service as of December

31, 1961 2,135

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22

City Document No. 11

DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE ALARM BOXES
DISTRICTS

District 1

126

District 7 .

181

District 2

131

District 8 .

241

District 3

161

District 9 .

187

District 4

156

District 10

363

District 5

. 202

District 11

191

District 6

196

DIVISIONS

Division 1
Division 2

770
1,365

FIRE ALARM BOXES INSTALLED IN 1961

Date

Box

Dis-

TEICT

Location

Jan. 10

12-3763

10

Fairmoimt Nursing Home, 172 Fairmount Avenue.

Jan. 24

12-1275

3

U. S. Post Office and Court House, Post Office Square.

Jan. 24

12-4251

2

Navy Yard, Pier 5, Head of Pier, East Side.

Jan. 24

13-4251

2

Navy Yard, Pier 5, Midway on Pier, East Side.

Apr. 25

12-5293

11

Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, 38
Street, Guard Room, Rear.

Life

May 11

13-531

11

Regent Nursing Home, 74 Corey Road.

May 15

13-2712

9

Sophia Snow House, 1215 Centre Street.

Aug. 28

12-5334

11

Rose Finkle Nursing Home, 149 Strathmore Road.

Aug. 30

12-3753

10

Most Precious Blood School, 1288 Hyde Park Avenue.

Oct. 5

12-2354

5

Riverway Manor, Wheelock College, 214 Riverway.

Oct. 10

3637

8

Ormond Street, opposite Outlook Road.

Nov. 9

12-7273

6

American Brush Company, 99 Atkinson Street.

Fire Department

23

FIRE ALARM BOXES DISCONTINUED IN 1961

Date

Box

Dis-
trict

Location

Apr. 8

12-3175

7

Miner House, 40 Mill Street.

June 19

12-3743

10

St. Raphael's Parochial School, Oak Street.

Sept. 26

12-6221

1

U. S. Naval Stores, McClellan Highway, opposite Addison
Street.

Dec. 28

12-1673

4

Louisa M. Alcott School, West Concord Street.

FIRE ALARM BOXES RELOCATED IN 1961

Fire Alarm Box 3635 was relocated and designation
changed, as given in General Order No. 43, dated
October 26, 1961, viz.:

3635, Hillsboro and Outlook Roads

CHANGE IN DESIGNATION OF FIRE ALARM BOXES IN 1961

General

General

Orders No.

Box No.

Orders No.

Box No.

1

7435

22

1353

1

12-2165

24

13-3432

2

3663

26

1254

2

3242

28

15-1412

3

13-2184

31

3844

20 .

13-2136

31

3832

20

2145

35

4151

22

2649

49

12-369

24

City Document No. 11

FIRE ALARM CONSTRUCTION FORCE
UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION — 1961

Number

Type or Cable

Installed

Removed

of Con-
ductors

Feet of
Cable

Feet of
Conductors

Feet of
Cable

Feet of
Conductors

4
4

Polyethylene P. V. C .

3,920

6,550
9,963

2,970

5,925
650

15,680

45,850
99,630

56,430

219,225
59,150

280
1,296
5,883

318
1,050

970

1,742

1,118

60

520
2,017

150

1,666
570

1,120
5,184

6

35,298

7

7

Polyethylene P. V. C. .

2,226
7,350

10
10

Polyethylene P. V. C. .

9,700
17,420

15

16,770

19
19
19

Polyethylene P. V. C. .
Anhydrex Jacketed ....

1,140

9,880

38,323

20

3,000

37
37

Polyethylene P. V. C...

61,642

91
91

Polyethylene P. V. C...

51,870

Totals

29,978

495,965

17,640

260,923

Fire Department

25

OVERHEAD CONSTRUCTION — 1961

Installed

Removed

Feet

Feet

No. 10 Copper Weld T. B. W. P. "Duraline"

2,020

No. 9 T. B. W. P. Galvanized

— ■

28,340

No. 14 Twisted Pair — Weatherproof

150

1,095

2 Cond. No. 14 Anhydrex Jacketed

—

225

4 Cond. No. 14 Nonmetallic .

—

2,600

4 Cond. No. 14 Polyethylene P. V. C. .

6,545

1,295

6 Cond. No. 14 Nonmetallic .

—

1,760

7 Cond. No. 14 Polyethylene P. V. C. .

5,585

—

10 Cond. No. 14 Polyethylene P. V. C.

25

— ■

19 Cond. No. 14 Nonmetallic

—

1,200

Totals

14,325

36,515

Knockdowns Attended to .
Multiple Alarms Responded to .
Fire Alarm Boxes Installed
Line Construction: Removals,
Slack Hauled, etc.

Installations, Transfers,

148
88-
15

299 Poles

IRE PREVENTION DIVISION
1961

27

28

City Document No. 11

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29

SUMMARY OF INSPECTIONS AND
INVESTIGATIONS — 196!

Inspection Force 1961 — Fire Prevention Division

Number of complaints received

Number of inspections made

Number of abatement orders issued ....
Number of corrections and reinspections made

Places of Assembly

Places of assembly inspected
Number of corrections made
Number of abatement orders issued .
Certificates of analysis approved
Certificates of flameprooflng approved

1,711

44,517
5,788
5,753

57,769

4,781

990

86

330

271

6,458

Inspections by Fire Company Officers and Firefighters

Building inspections 48,210

Reinspections 2,800

Theaters 12,410

Schoolhouses 6,827

Public buildings 6,510

Oil farms 79

Carhouses 69

New installations — oil burner inspections .... 2,396

Flammable fluids, storage facilities, etc 3,290

Open-air fires 403

Tank removals 65

License renewals, inflammables, garages, etc 2,650

Parking lots 398

License petitions (location approvals) 160

Blasting 103

Boarding homes for children, day nurseries, boarding homes
for aged, convalescent homes, etc., hospitals, institutions,

etc 970

87,340

Total inspections and reinspections 151,567

Conditions referred to other departments (written) 955

Fire Drills

Schools 2,801

Theaters 361

Hospitals, institutions, etc. 1,045

Industrial and mercantile establishments .... 940

School Program

Number of school visits made .
Number of pupils spoken to (all visits)

539
36,390

30

City Document No. 11

ARSON SQUAD ACTIVITIES - 1961

Undetermined fires
Suspicious fires
Causes given but investigated
Multiple alarms .

Deaths

Injuries

Arrests

Grand Jury indictments
Municipal Court cases
Municipal Court convictions
Superior Court cases .
Gas odors investigated
Fire prevention inspections
Bomb scares ....
Explosions ....

221

19

116

83

21

83

14

2

25

2

11

104

508

5

2

CASUALTY REPORT AND REASON

Injuries Deaths

Careless disposal of cigarette .
Careless smoking

14
15

2

Children and matches

4

1

Cleaning with gas

1

Explosion

3

Explosion, gas ....
Explosion, tar kettle

1
1

Flash back ....

1

Flooded oil burner .

1

Gas leak

1

Hot grease on kitchen stove .

1

Ignition of cement .

3

Ignition of flammable liquid .
Inflammable fluid ignited by pilot
Inflammable fluid spilled and ignit
Rubbish

light
ed

1
1
1

2

Short circuit ....

2

Suicide attempt
Smoker's article

1

1

Smoking in bed

5

5

Undetermined ....

24

12

83

21

Fire Department 31

CHEMICAL LABORATORY
Summary of Analyses and Tests — 1961

Number of certificates of analysis issued 357

Flash points 9

Inspections 10

Building Department tests 5

Total fees collected $551

PHOTOGRAPHIC LABORATORY
Summary of Activities — 1961

Arson ' . 246

Accidents 93

Department activities 109

Public relations 18

Fire prevention 175

Multiple alarms 83

I. D. photos 45

Number of negatives 5,296

Number of prints 8,279

32

City Document No. 11

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ANALYSIS OF FIRES

IN BUILDINGS

AND CAUSES OF FIRES

36

City Document No. 11

ANALYSIS OF FIRES IN BUILDINGS
FOR YEAR 1961

Construction of Buildings

Fire-resistive
Second-class
Third-class .
Other type .

Total .

227

962

763

42

1,994

Point of Origin

First floor .
Second floor
Third floor .
Above the third
Roof ....
Outside

635
357
226
137
52
220

Total . 1,994

Extent of Fire

Confined to point of origi
Confined to buildings
Extended to other buildir

n

LgS .

943

983

68

Total

1,994

Causes of Fires in Buildings — 1961

Defective chimney

32

Sparks from chimney on roof .

4

Defectively installed heater

16

Rubbish near heater

2

Hot ashes

9

Fuel oil burner ....

98

Starting fires — kerosene or gasoline

3

Careless smoking ....

945

Children and matches . . .

105

Other careless use of matches

7

Defective wiring ....

116

Fire Department

37

Electric appliances and motors
Home dry cleaning
Flammable liquids near flame
Kerosene lamps, stoves .
Grease, food on stove
Clothes, furniture too near fire
Spontaneous ignition
Fireworks ....
Thawing water pipes
Sparks from machines
City gas and appliances .
Miscellaneous known causes
Malicious mischief
Incendiary or suspicious .
Unknown ....

95

8

7

2

27

14

19

1

9

18

21

166

52

17

201

Total

1,994

Causes of Outdoor Fires — 1961

Rubbish
Dump .
Brush or grass
Other outdoor
Marine
Automobile

3,041

85

2,202

613

8

1,142

Total

7,091

Rescue (emergency calls)
Out-of-city calls

4,978
156

City op Boston

Administrative Services Department

Printing a;$8|ljSa» Section