To the Honorable Board of Fire Commissioners of the City and County of San Francisco:

GENTLEMEN : I have the honor herewith to present my annual report of the conditions and operations of the department under my charge for the year ending June 30th, 1884.
            This department has responded to alarms during the year as follows, viz :
                        Hall bell alarms 273
                        Second alarms 2
                        Still alarms 177
                        Total fires responded to 452

BUILDINGS BURNED.
            Totally destroyed 24
            Damaged (loss below $300) 300
            Fires confined to one building 241
            Fires and no damage to buildings , 62

FIRES.
While the record of fires for the past year exceeds that of the preceding year, the losses by fire have been much less. During the year the department has responded to 275 hall bell alarms, and 177 still or verbal alarms by different companies, making 454 actual fires of all classes, causing a loss of $564,017.

            Two second alarms were sent in, viz :
            First, for the Winter Garden fire on Post, Stockton and Sutter streets, whereby 23 buildings were destroyed or damaged, causing a loss of $167,954.
            Second, was from the fire on Mission and Spear streets, in a very combustible part of the city, composed of Planing Mills, Lumber Yards, etc., which caused a loss estimated at $46,871. These two fires caused a loss of $214,825, or nearly forty per cent, of the entire loss for the year.

ACCIDENTS TO MEMBERS AT FIRES.
Jerry Jones, Truckman of Truck No. 3, was injured by being run over by Hose Cart No. 5 responding to an alarm.
Nicholas Barbetta, Hoseman of Engine Company No. 12, was injured at the fire on Jackson street by a roof falling in, sustained serious injuries.
Thomas Mathews, Hoseman of Engine Company No. 12. was injured at a fire on Jackson street by the falling in of the roof of a building.
James Rice, Truckman of Truck No. 1, dislocated his ankle by jumping from the Truck while it was in motion.
Benjamin F. Lanfar, Driver of Hose No. 4, broke his collar bone by being accidentally thrown from the Hose Cart.
Jeff Dolan, Driver of Truck No. 1, was injured by a kick from a horse on a " hitch up," and sustained severe internal injuries.
John R. McCaull, Truckman of Truck No. 4, was injured by the upsetting of the Truck on Jones street.
Thomas Connors, John Donohue, Edward Gallagher, Hosemen of Hose Company No. 9 (Fire Boat), were injured by inhaling gas from burning coal and sulphur in the hold of the ship, C. C. Chapman.
George E. Burr, Truckman of Truck No. 2, was injured at a fire on Jackson street by falling from a ladder.
John Fay, Hoseman of Engine Company No. 2, was badly burned at a fire on the corner of Mission and Spear streets.

MORTALITY.
            The Department has lost during the past year by death six members :
            July 14, 1883, James Bridgewood, Engineer of Steamer No. 10, Aneurism of the Heart.
            August 2, 1883, James Stanton, Hoseman of Engine Company No. 10, Consumption.
            November 15, 1883, Thomas McGuirk, Truckman of Truck No. 2, Consumption.
            December 16, 1883, Michael Lavelle, Foreman Hose Company No. 2, Consumption .
            April 3, 1884, John J. Colvin, Hoseman of Engine Company No. 5, killed by falling from a shed while at work at his trade, that of a painter.
            May 23, 1884, John T. Connell, Hoseman of Engine Company No. 8, Dropsy.

CORPORATION YARD.
In addition to the regular equipment of different Engine, Hose and Truck Companies, the Corporation Yard contains six relief engines, four relief hose carts, one four wheeled carriage, and one hook and ladder truck.

HORSES
During the past year twenty horses were purchased, six sold, one transferred for service to the Pest House, one to the Police Department, and two to the Industrial School ; remaining in the department seventy-four horses for service.

The following condemned material was sold by order of his Honor the Mayor, and the proceeds paid into the City Treasury, viz ;
                        Four wheels and two axles $ 40 00
                        1,300 lbs. old brass 110 50
                        8,410 lbs. old iron 63 05
                                    Total amount $213 55

HOSE.
Ten thousand feet of new carbolized hose has been purchased during the past year. The department is now fully supplied, companies all having a full complement. There is a large reserve of hose in the yard in case of emergency.

HYDRANTS.
During the year 19 hydrants have been set and 31 reset. There are now in use for the department 1,418 hydrants.

HOUSES.
All but one of the houses of the department are in first-class condition, having been thoroughly repaired, painted and whitened. The exception is Engine House No. 11, located at South San Francisco. In my former report to your Honorable Body I recommended the erection of a new house, since which time a more suitable lot has been purchased, and 1 can not too strongly urge the immediate building of a house on that lot. The house now occupied by this company is in a dilapidated condition and unfit for occupancy. I would suggest that a building of such dimensions be erected as to admit of the storage of additional apparatus, as that portion of the city is remote, and any additional apparatus that may be required at a large fire would be convenient for use.

RECOMMENDATIONS.
I respectfully recommend that an additional Steam Fire Engine Company to be known and designated as Engine Company No. 14, be organized and located on Sacramento street, between Webster and Fillmore streets.

I also recommend the purchase of a Babcock Four Wheeled Chemical Engine, fully equipped with all the latest appliances for the extinguishment of fires by chemicals, and the organization of a Company to operate the same to be stationed in the eastern portion of the city, known as the " Dry Goods District." It is needless to say that the extinguishment of incipient fires by chemicals is very effective, and involves much less loss than by water, and is now in use in all large cities.

I also recommend the purchase of two new steam fire engines for the department, to replace old engines that are deemed unserviceable, and that those condemned be sold, as they are an expense and occupy room in the yard to the exclusion of more desirable apparatus.

I recommend the purchase of four new Pallett relief valves for such engines as require them ; they are patented and must be purchased from the agent or patentee.

Your attention is respectfully called to the statements hereto annexed, showing the operations of the department for the year.

My thanks are hereby tendered to the officers and members of the department for the intelligence and efficiency displayed by them while on duty. Also to Capt. Russel White, of the Fire Patrol, Capt. John L. Durkee, Fire Marshal, Chief of Police, P. Crowley, also to Superintendent of Fire Alarm, John Curran, for many favors received.

My thanks are especially due to your Honorable Board, for the earnest support extended to me at all times, and I shall ever cherish with feelings of gratitude the many acts of kindness and expressions of friendship extended to me in your official capacity.

Respectfully submitted,
DAVID SCANNELL,

Chief of Fire Department.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 1, 1884.

Back to the Top