WPBFD History

arson, saying, "There is evidence of arson. The rapidity of the spread of fire is evidence of arson. We have some suspects." The old alarm system had been the source of complaints from firefighters for a long time. Sta- tions were filled with "beeps" and alarms at an ever increasing rate, twenty-four hours a day. Chief Bell had been told of the increased stress factor that resulted from hearing every alarm for every sta- tion, but he feared a mistake in routing alarms might cause an unnecessary delay in response. Chief Reese had installed the alert tone system in July of 1986, but had been reluctant to put it into service on a twenty-four hour ba- sis. No matter that other fire de- partments had successfully used individual station tone systems for decades. Chief Reese agreed to test the new system in the fall of

would greet Jack Beach, one of the department's smallest men, with "Hey, big boy," and another fire- fighter, who was not considered handsome by any means, with "Hey, good looking." In early 1986 the fire depart- ment purchased its first portable cascade system for filling air bot- tles at the scene of major fires. Prior to this the assistant mechanic had to pick-up empty bottles, rush to #5 Station, exchange them with filled bottles, and then return to the fire ground. The new system saved time as bottles were filled on the scene as they were used. The unit, mounted on a double axle trailer, was housed at #4 Station. A mechanic could tow it with his pick-up truck when needed. The Bauer compressor was powered by a Lister two cylinder diesel engine. Two filling stations allowed four air bottles to be filled at once.

Russell M. Reese, Chief 1986-90

1986, but only on a limited basis. For some strange rea- son the chief wanted to hear all the noise during normal business hours, so the system was only used from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. It would be years before the system was utilized around the clock. The high rise problem, the focus of attention for over a decade, was again brought to light on the evening of November 14, 1986. Patricia Callahan was working late in her sixth floor office of the Comeau Building lo- cated at 319 Clematis Street. The sixty-year-old structure had recently been renovated, but an automatic sprinkler system and fire alarm were not part of the plan. About 7:45 p.m Callahan opened the office door and encoun- tered heavy smoke in the hallway. Grabbing her briefcase she ran for the stairs, pulling the manual fire alarm on her way. About the same time West Palm Beach Police Offi- cer Tony Lutz spotted flames from more than a block away. He called in the alarm at 7:47 p.m. and positioned his patrol car to block traffic in the 300 block of Clematis Street. He watched as the fire began to grow on the tenth floor, "I saw the window blow out. Flames looked like they were twenty to twenty-five feet out from the wall after the first window blew out." Glass was showering down on the street as Central Station arrived moments later. Company 1-A, com- manded by Acting Captain William H. Krick, arrived on a "Code Two," meaning that additional units might be needed. His crew quickly gathered equipment and headed

The department also obtained a new piece of rescue equipment. The Lampe-Lifter-System provided air bags that could be filled by using air from SCBA air bottles. The bags were capable of lifing up to twenty tons. By April of 1986 the Firefighter News had become a publication of the Fraternal Order of Firemen instead of Local 727. The Women's Auxiliary still published the newsletter, but the storm with the union had resulted in a split between all three organizations. Robert Berlin, President of the F.O.F. at the time, had been one of the most vocal in opposing expanded union activities. The Women's Auxiliary printed a cookbook of reci- pes collected from all the firefighters in 1986. Burnt Of- ferings sold for $6.00 and included many of the unique firehouse "chow down" secrets. An alarm roused sleeping firefighters at 3:46 a.m. on July 3, 1986. Fire was reported in an apartment build- ing at 323 Almeria Road. It was well underway in the unoccupied two story building when Company 2 and Company 4 arrived almost simultaneously. Master streams were ordered as flames danced from the win- dows. Before long the fire breached the roof and two firefighters narrowly escaped injury as a wall came crash- ing to the ground. The building had been undergoing renovation by the BLD Construction Corporation for more than two months. The apartments had been the target of arsonists three times in the six months prior to the July 3 blaze. Chief Fire Prevention Officer David Jordan ruled the fire

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