WPBFD History

CHAPTER FIVE The Roaring Twenties 1920 to 1929 It is in great dangers that we see great courage. Jean Francois Regnard

worked out a system that divided the city into nine fire districts. The Palm Beach Post published a map that al- lowed all citizens to determine where a fire was located by listening to the whistle. Chief Sadler got a new vehicle after suffering sev- eral injuries cranking his old Buick. His new Hudson Super Six cost a substantial $2,200. 1921 The department continued to upgrade fire apparatus as reported in the Palm Beach Post on March 19, 1921: A new triple combination fire truck, deliv- ered to the West Palm Beach fire department Thursday, has undergone official tests and has been accepted. The apparatus is known as type 75, American-La France, having been built by that company at Elmira, N. Y. This is the very latest type of combination fire truck and is fully equipped. It is termed a combination because the equipment combines with the monster pump a chemical engine and a hose truck and carries ladders as well. The six-cylinder motor is rated at 105 horse-power and is capable of moving the truck

1920 The city commissioners were pleased with Chief Sadler's annual report for 1919 according to the Palm Beach Post article of January 7, 1920: The City of West Palm Beach has broken all records for minimum of fire losses sustained during the year 1919, as compared with all other Florida municipalities, the total loss in this city for the past twelve month by fire amounting to only $8,027.84, of which sum $4,000 was represented by a new automobile destroyed by fire in a flimsey, wooden structure. This record of fire losses brought forth many complimen- tary remarks last night from the mayor and city commissioners, at the conclusion of Chief A. P. Sadler's report and caused Mayor D. F. Dunkle to draw some significant comparisons that may result in the future formation of a strong mutual fire insurance association in Palm Beach County. The seventh annual report of Chief A. P. Sadler, rendered last night, is the eighth since the organization of the paid fire department. The number of alarms numbered only 28 for the entire twelve months, with a total loss on build- ings during 1919 of only $2,598.56. The loss

at 60 miles per hour if this speed should be needed, although the outfit weighs five tons.

The cost of the appa- ratus is $12,500 com- pletely equipped. With it the depart- ment will be able to fight serious fires regardless of the pressure delivered in the water mains or can pump from any body of water. H. T. Gleason, of the Atlanta branch of American-La France, delivered the truck and conducted the tests at the canal ba- sin. Although the

on contents of these buildings amounts to $5,429.28, of which $4,000 of this sum is chargable to an auto- mobile, . . A new "call men"

fire alarm system went into operation Monday, April 20, 1920. The "fire whistle" sounded one long blast as before, but then a series of short blasts would indicate in which zone of the city the fire was. Chief Sadler and City Manager Firth

Driver training in the 1920s.

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