Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 45, DeMotte, Jasper County, 28 September 1939 — FIRE CHIEF ASKS FOR GREATER CO-OPERATION [ARTICLE]

FIRE CHIEF ASKS FOR GREATER CO-OPERATION

While not complaining with regard to any specific cases, Fire Chief Win Bahler feels that Fire Prevention Week is a good time to point out the possible results of failure on part of the public to cooperate fully with the fire department in event of fire. Probably as good an illustration of this as any, was an occurence near Indianapolis only a few weeks ago. A large farm building caught fire in the day time and large numbers of people were attracted by the smoke. Notwithstanding that a township pumper was promptly summoned and made a quick response, the building was a total loss because when the truck reached the scene the road and the farm lane were so full of parked automobiles that it could not get through. A state law requires that fire apparatus shall have the right of way and that no cars shall follow within ffOO feet of a fire truck. Five minutes’ time does not mean much to a spectator in reaching a fire; if the fire is such a small one that in five minutes it will be extinguished, then it Ln’t worth going to in the first place. . If it’s a big fire, then it will be in progress when he gets there anyway. So, Chief Bahler suggests, give the firemen the first five minutes, which are awfully important to them —and to the owner of the burning property. Keep in mind that huuman life may be at stake. Please do not block roads in the vicinity of a fire even though the firemen already have arrived. Do not attempt to pass the fire truck while it is on the way to a fire. Consideration of these points will enable our firemen to do a more efficient job and will lessen the chances of a disastrous fire.