HEADQUARTERS FIRE DEPARTMENT,
OLD CITY HALL,

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1, 1891.

To the Honorable the Board of Supervisors Of the City and County of San Francisco :

GENTLEMEN: According to the law governing the Department, the under-signed, Chief Engineer, has the honor of herewith submitting for your consideration the following report of the operations of the Department under his charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.

Therein will be found a full list of the officers and members comprising the force, a record of the alarms responded to, and fires that have occurred during the year; the loss by fire and the amount of insurance on property affected; the aggregate of insurance paid; also such suggestions and recommendations that appear to me necessary to increase the efficiency of this branch of the municipal service.

During the year the Department responded to 411 first-bell alarms, 6 second-bell alarms, and 208 still or verbal alarms, making a total of 628 - alarms of fire answered during the year.

The total loss by fire as determined by Captain White of the Underwriters' Fire Patrol was $979.749 35. Amount of insurance paid 726,397 57
Actual loss to property- owners . . $293,351 78

NOTABLE FIRES.
July 26, 1890 Time, 11:18 A. M.; Box 281. Two-story frame building on San Bruno road, occupied by Mark Strouse as a packing house. Loss, $19,307.

October 22, 1890 Time, 1:58 A.M.; Box 148. Sixteenth street, near Harrison. Pacific Candle Factory and others. Loss, $53,000.

November 3. 1890 Time, 2:43 A. M.; Box 38. Burlington Hotel and others. Second alarm, 3:27 A. M. Loss, $208,100.

November 13, 1890 Time, 10:38 P. M.; Box 32. Wangenheim Building and others, corner Sacramento and Davis streets. Second alarm, 10:55 P. M. Loss, $167,000.

December 10, 1890 Time, 1:07 A. M.; Box 53. Pacific Lead and Oil Works, King street, between Second and Third. Second alarm, 1:15 A. M. Loss, $59,655,

January 21, 1891 Time, 8:20 A. M.; Box 17. Chinese dwelling, southwest corner Sullivan and Baker alley, Chinatown. Second alarm, 8:38 A. M. Loss, about $7,000.

June 10, 1891-Time, 8:36 P. M.; Box 281. Packing house, occupied by Mark Strouse, on San Bruno road. Loss, $34,066.

June 29, 1891 Time, 2:58 P. M.; Box 293. Chinese lodging-house, southeast corner Sullivan and Baker alley. Second alarm, 3:08 P. M. Loss, $17,264.

CASUALTIES.
In view of the dangerous duties the members of the Department have to perform, and the great risks they take in the discharge of those duties, the casualties, I am pleased to say, have been few during the year. The following is the list of the most serious:
            August 10, 1890 James Conniff, Foreman of Engine Company No. 1, fell from ladder Box 31. Internal injuries.
            August 31, 1890 James Fay, Foreman Engine Company No. 2, fell from balcony and broke shoulder blade.
            August 31, 1890 Gus Mathison, Hoseman in Engine 17, fell from roof, sustaining fracture to jaw and injury to spine.
            July 6, 1890 John P. Reimer, Hoseman in Engine 9, struck with harness hangers and lost an eye.

DEATHS.
During the year the following members and employees of the Department died:
            T. J. Driscoll, of Engine 3, died of consumption.
            Thomas Tracy, of Engine 2, died of asphyxiation.
            Edward Riley, of Engine 5, fell from ladder at a drill and died from injuries received
            F. Simmons, of Truck 2, died of consumption.

RECOMMENDATIONS.
I respectfully recommend increasing the force of the Department by organizing companies in the various unprotected sections of the city. Also, the changing of Hose Companies (from time to time, as the occasion may require) to Chemical Engine Companies and Steam Engine Companies, Truck Companies, etc.

I also recommend the removal of the stable from its present quarters at the Corporation Yard to a more central location. Also, the alteration of the Corporation Yard Building, so that it may be used for a repair shop for all kinds of work necessary for the repair of the apparatus of the Department and the shoeing of the horses, etc.

I further recommend the renovation of the old City and County Hospital Building, on the corner of Francisco and Stockton streets, in order that
it may be utilized for the purpose for which it was set aside. The present crowded condition of the Corporation Yard makes it necessary that a suitable building should be provided for the purpose of storing the extra apparatus of the Department.

I renew my former recommendations .of the necessity of increasing the number of hydrants throughout the city and increasing the size of the water mains in the various portions of the city supplied by the small water mains laid many years ago.

In closing this report I desire to tender my thanks to the Honorable Board of Fire Commissioners for the active interest you have manifested in
all matters pertaining to the success of the Department, and I desire also to thank the officers and members of the force for the alacrity manifested on all occasions in complying with my orders.

I also desire to express my thanks to His Honor Mayor Sanderson and the Honorable Board of Supervisors for the interest they have manifested in all business pertaining to the Department.

To the Chief of Police and members of his force, to Fire Marshal Charles Towe, to Captain White and Lieutenant O'Kell of the Fire Patrol, and to
Superintendent Thomas, Fire Alarm Telegraph, I am under many obligations for the manner in which they have assisted the Department in the discharge of their duties on all occasions.

Respectfully submitted,

DAVID SCANNELL,
Chief of Fire Department.

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