WPBFD History

RULE 4 HIGH PRESSURE ENGINEER

Number 2 Station - Datura Street to south City Limits. Number 3 Station - 12th Street to north City Limits. General - Companies will respond to other dis- tricts when so ordered by headquarters. Second Alarms - Instructions from officer in charge. Fire losses totaled $48,928.69 for the fiscal year 1939-40. This was more than a 300 percent increase from 1938-39. In 1940 the working hours were changed 24 hours on duty and 24 hours off duty. A new West Palm Beach Fire Department Rule Book was issued to personnel. Some of the more interesting of Chief Sadler's rules: RULE 1 CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT Section 3. He shall devote his entire time to the discharge of the duties of his office and shall exercise supreme command of the fire depart- ment in all its operations. Section 9. He shall receive the permission of the City Manager before leaving the city and shall notify the next ranking officer upon report- ing off duty. RULE 2 ASSISTANT CHIEF Section 1. The rank of Assistant Chief is next below that of Chief of the Fire Department. He shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office and shall, in the absence of the Chief, assume all the duties, functions, responsibilities and authority of the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment. Section 2. He shall receive the permission of the Chief of the Fire Department, approved by the City Manager, before leaving the city and shall notify the next ranking officer upon report- ing off duty. RULE 3 CAPTAINS Section 3. They shall not allow their apparatus to be driven at a rate of speed greater than can be maintained with safety; no racing in compe- tition with other apparatus will be allowed un- der any circumstances. Section 13. Change of shifts or platoons will be made at 8:00 A.M. daily, at which time the Captain shall read and post all special orders, details and instructions; tardiness will not be tolerated and if persisted in shall be reported to the Chief of the Fire Department.

Section 1. The High Pressure Engineer shall have charge of the high pressure station and all piped lines and equipment in connection therewith . . . RULE 5 INSPECTOR-CLERK Section 2. He shall keep an accurate record of all fires and fire losses. RULE 6 DEPARTMENT MECHANIC Section 1. The Department Mechanic shall have full charge of the department repair shop and all apparatus . . . Section 3. He shall instruct the drivers of the apparatus in the proper care, operation and maintenance of same . . . RULE 7 DRIVERS Section 3. He shall take instructions from his Captain as to the route and speed to be traveled. Section 4. He shall reduce speed to suit condi- tions when passing through crowded streets or turning corners; he shall reduce speed when rounding curves, approaching grade crossings or when passing blind corners where a full and unobstructed view is not possible. If necessary to avoid accident or running down of pedestri- ans the apparatus shall be brought to a full stop. RULE 8 FIREMEN Section 1. Firemen shall perform the duties as directed by their superior officers and approved by the Board. RULE 9 GENERAL RULES Section 1. The uniformed force of the Fire Department, except the Chief, Assistant Chief, Inspector-Clerk and High Pressure Engineer of the department, shall be divided into two shifts or platoons. Platoons shall be known as No. 1 Platoon and No. 2 Platoon. Change of Platoons will be made daily at 8:00 A.M. Section 4. All officers and men shall be con- sidered to be on duty at all times when within the city whether on the working shift or the off shift and shall make every reasonable effort to respond in case of an alarm. At the sounding of an alarm all members of the off shift shall ascer- tain the location of the fire by calling headquar- ters and upon learning the location of the fire shall respond to that location or to the station responding to the alarm if possible to do so.

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