WPBFD History

had to complete his work at the various fire stations. Plans were made to incorporate a new shop as a part of the next fire station constructed. Two new Emerson Resuscitators were purchased in 1957. Prior to that a single unit was kept at Central Sta- tion in the assistant chief's car. With a unit at each sta- tion, fire companies began to answer first aid calls instead of the assistant chief. The Emerson Resuscitator was called "the anchor" by firemen because of its awkward size and weight. Two "D" size oxygen tanks were at- tached to a mechanical regulator inside a large suitcase with two handles on the top. Its weight was every bit of fifty pounds and it took two men to tote it any distance. 1958 By 1958 the water distribution system was com- prised of 142.6 miles of water mains ranging in size from 4 to 36 inches. The oldest main dated back to 1899. Fire hydrants on the system numbered 702. The old high pressure fire system was suffering from senility. Constructed in 1922, after the major confla- gration that burned nearly two city blocks, it had been Chief Sadler's downtown water supply "insurance policy." Now, thirty six years later, the department could no longer rely on it in an emergency. In 1952 the National Board of Fire Underwriters had recommended major changes in the system. At the city's request, the engineering firm of Robert and Company Associates analyzed the system. Their re- port, dated August 12, 1958, found the following:

The magnesium engines could not be extinguished with water and continued burning through the night with eerie white flames lighting the scene. Spilled fuel burned red, but was extinguished more easily. Miraculously, three of the crew members walked away from the crash. Police were not able to effectively control the crowds of people that jammed the crash site, pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of the spectacle. One woman with a child in her arms had to be forcibly removed to prevent her from being injured. A group of children played in a ditch that had been drenched with fuel and would not leave the area despite police urgings. Fire hoses were finally turned on the children to force them back to safety. Moments after they retreated, the ditch erupted in flames. By 8:00 p.m. three dead airmen had been removed from the grisly scene, but firemen would remain throughout the night before the flames subsided. On May 1, 1956, the public fire protection classifica- tion of West Palm Beach was changed to a Class 4. The new rating, primarily a result of adding Company 1-B at headquarters, lowered insurance costs for some occupan- cies in the city. 1957 North and South Stations operated as single pumper companies even though they responded with two pumpers out of each station. The five man crew was comprised of a company officer, two driver/engineers, and two pri- vates. The first pumper responded with the officer, driver, and two privates, while the second pumper fol- lowed with a single driver. The theory of the second pumper was to have a hose wagon if the first pumper ar- rived at the scene and needed a supply line. The second pumper also provided additional resources in case multi- ple pump lines were needed. This policy continued into the 1970s until the department added E.M.S. units at both stations. Central Station operated with three companies, two pumpers each with a crew of three or four men, and a lad- der company with two men. The pumper companies were designated 1-A and 1-B. Company 1-A was under the direction of a captain and responded as the first unit in the downtown running card. Company 1-B had a lieutenant and acted primarily as a cover company for the entire city. The ladder responded with a lieutenant and a driver. The assistant chief was also housed in the headquarters sta- tion. A new position was added to the ranks in 1957. The master mechanic, working a forty hour week, would be in charge of maintenance of all department vehicles. There had been a master mechanic assigned these duties since the 1940s, but he had also served as a firefighter working on shift. Lacking a shop facility the mechanic

1. The electrically driven pumps are obsolete and are subject to stoppage from electrical fail- ure and from flooding during hurricanes. 2. The gasoline driven pumps are obsolete and are lacking in dependability. Further, these pumps could become inaccessible on account of flood tides under extreme hurricane conditions. 3. Manual control of the fire pumps by a fire- man specifically designated for that purpose may be wasteful of man power. 4. Maintenance and inspection of the fire pumps from the Fire Department central station is unduly costly. 5. The fire pump structures detract from the appearance of the lake front and the space occu- pied by these structures is considered to be too valuable for that purpose. 6. The pressure of 125 psi used in the present fire system is considered to be excessive and it would be desirable that the fire system be oper- ated at essentially the same pressure as the City water supply system.

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