NEAFC 31st Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS
House Bill No. 116, which makes it illegal to ship fireworks, which have control of fireworks
under the law, and on that bill we are working very hard and we would like
to have the support of the New England Fire Chiefs.
One of the other very important new developments, and one wfiich I think is going
to revolutionize to a considerable extent the control of fires in factories, warehouses, etc.,
has been -the development and adoption of a new type of automatic system--a spraytype
sprinkler approved at the ann.ual meeting in Chicago last month. It will come in
time, I think, to replace the old standard~ type of sprinkler system. This new type is
more efficient; it can be installed more cheaply and will do a better job, and I think it
will revolutionize the sprinkler system in years to come.
Another new development which will interest the Fire Chiefs, who have struggled
with this problem of loss of life and deaths an.d injuries in fire, has been the adoption
recently of a standard definition .of ~qre casualties, which I think will make it easier for
everybody throughout the country to follow, and unify the reporting of fire deaths and
fire injuries so, we will get more adequate and relic’bit information to study and put
to use, just as study hazards in various industrial processes. There has been a lack of
good experience because of a lack of understanding, lack of uniformity and definition
of fire casualties. We think .the new definition is going to be very helpful to produce
more accurate information cn what causes deaths an6 why.
As far as the fire departmenl:s are concerned, I have a large list of things which
I won’t go into_ at all, but I think you all recognize the fact that the use of water fog
and indirect water ir~ firefighting has made tremendous strides in the last few years; and
in tests all over the country, where old buildings were discarded, some actual tests can
be made. Henry Thomas, chairman of our co.mmittee, was present in a ’series of tests
at E!mira last year. Other tests have been conducted in the Mid;dle West and Memphis,
and Lloyd Layman of Parkersburg--who is probably the exponent of the operation--has
proceeded to a point where every fire department in the country is either
adopting it or is seriously considering it.
In the ~eld of fire prevention education we have had the greatest success.
during the past year because of the advent into the picture of the advertising council,
which has taken on fire prevention as one of its national campaigns, along with
blood d,on0~:s and governmer~t recruiting, etc. In every newspaper, in every television
and radio program, in street cars and buses--and they are giving voluntarily publicity
for fire protection ~and prevention., at no cost. It is a tremendous development that I
think will :do a great deal to cut down loss of life in fires for years to come.
For the la’st several .years our Association has been holding regional meetings in
various parts of the country and they have been very successful That is in addition to
our annual meet’ing held in the Spring. We have had these meetings in various parts
of the United States. The first was in Hartford six years ago. Next Fall it is going
to be in Providence, Rhode Island, under the direction of ’Chief Lewis Marshall, on
October 29 and 30, and we will try to present to a New England audience the picture
of what is going ~on, both engineering-wise and educational-wise. It is very ,short and interrsive,
and I hope the New England Fire Chiefs will come in large numbers. Thank
you very much. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT MOLLOY: Thank you, Mr. Bugbee. I think that is all for this morning.
Don’t forget the exhibitors’ gifts after dirmer in the exhibit hall.
(The Wednesday morning meeting adjo.urned at. twelve o’clock.)
209