1949 Annual Report

The text of the 1949 Annual Report is herein reproduced in it's entirety, with the exception of the apparatus photos which are displayed in the historical apparatus section. This is the department's second annual report, but the first to contain full information and statistics. Not only does it provide for an historical snapshot of the department at it's genesis, it also illustrates just how much the department has enlarged and expanded since it's inception.

All efforts have been made to reproduce the original typed report as closely as possible. The one exception is the report's use of the "¹/₂" key, originally a single glyph on the typewriter keyboard, unavailable for use by web browsers.

report cover

1949

A N N U A L R E P O R T

C E N T R A L F I R E P R O T E C T I O N D I S T R I C T

S A N T A C L A R A C O U N T Y

San Jose, California

FIRE COMMISSIONERS

Arch Wilson, President

Curtner Zanker H. O. Fiebig

M. E. McCollam J. A. Mirassou

SECRETARY

E. B. Hughston

FIRE DEPARTMENT

H. C. Lingua, Fire Chief

H. C. Turner, Assistant Chief

F. M. Luhring, Assistant Chief

February 1, 1950

To the Honorable Board
of Fire Commissioners
Central Fire Protection District
San Jose, California

Gentlemen:

I herewith submit the second Annual Report
of the Central Fire Protection District Fire Depart-
ment, for 1949. The statistical breakdown of the
number of alarms received, fire losses, insurable
values, activities of the department, and other in-
formation, is contained in this report.

I with to express my appreciation to the
Board of Fire Commissioners for their valuable co-
operation and assistance during the year. I further
wish to express my appreciation to the many depart-
ments of Santa Clara County that have assisted the
fire department. To the officers and men in the
department, I extend my whole-hearted thanks for their
untiring efforts and support.

Respectfully submitted,

Henry C. Lingua, Chief

HCL:mm

INTRODUCTION

The year 1949 has brought many important improvements in
the Central Fire Protection District. Many constructive recommen-
dations made by the Board of Fire Underwriters of the Pacific have
been completed to further safeguard life and property in the Dist-
rict.

Headquarters Fire Station, located on Tully Road on pro-
perty acquired from the Santa Clara County Fair Association, is
rapidly nearing completion. One wing of this station will house
the Santa Clara County Communications Department. Consolidation
of this department with the fire station was effected through the
cooperation of the Board of Supervisors.

Unquestionably, the joint housing of the Communications
Department and Headquarters Fire Station was a wise step both eco-
nomically and operationally, savings being effected in construction,
utilities and sewage. This move further constitites (sic) a solid foun-
dation for a future "Central Emergency Headquarters" for Santa Clara
County. Sincere appreciation is extended to the board of Super-
visors, Santa Clara County Fair Association, Board of Trustees of
the Franklin-McKinley School District and others who aided in making
this possible.

A new 1250 gpm pumper 150# Class A test, is on order for
the headquarters station and will be in addition to equipment for
the area now temporarily housed in the Cottage Grove Station, which
will be eliminated.

A selective calling system, one of the first in the State,
has been installed in the Alum Rock, Cupertino, Cambrian and Quito
Fire Stations, which enables the dispatching of fire apparatus by
radio, saving many minutes of valuable time.

Water supply for the Cottage Grove area has been greatly
improved by the San Jose Water Company's new reservoir on Oak Hill.
For example, a hydrant in the industrial area that formerly had a
flow of 810 gpm will now flow more than 1800 gpm and at a higher
residual pressure.

Insurance rate reductions up to as high as 58% in the Alum
Rock and Cottage Grove rating districts have been effected during
this year. It is felt what with improvements now under way other
areas will be entitled to fire insureance rate reductions. Accord-
ingly, a request has been made to the Board of Underwriters of the
Pacific for a resurvey of the District, which has been scheduled for
March 1, 1950.

FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL

At The End of 1949

1 Chief

2 Assistant Chiefs

1 Drillmaster

28 Engineer Firemen

1 Clerk

_____

33 Total

71 Volunteers

7 Volunteer Sleepers

FIRE STATISTICS

Value of Property Endangered:

Buildings $ 803,946

Contents $ 127,981

_________

Total $ 931,927

Insurance on Property Endangered:

Buildings $ 719,158

Contents $ 101,990

_________

Total $ 821,148

Fire Loss Insured:

Buildings $ 75,772

Contents $ 36,194

_________

Total $ 111,966

Fire Loss Uninsured:

Buildings $ 18,407

Contents $ 11,401

_________

Total $ 29,808

DISTRIBUTION OF ALARMS BY MONTH

January 40 August 73

February 17 September 69

March 20 October 66

April 30 November 45

May 44 December 40

June 126 ____

July 89 Total 659

DISTRIBUTION OF ALARMS BY HOURS

Midnight to 6:00 A. M. 52

6:00 A. M. to Noon 144

Noon to 6:00 P. M. 295

6:00 P. M. to Midnight 168

____

Total 659

STRUCTURAL FIRES

Dwellings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Barn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Garage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Shed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Factory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Club House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Warehouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Sulphur House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Play House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Auto Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Grocery Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Tallow Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Service Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Pump House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Restroom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Work Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Wash House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Tent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

____

Total 120

Distribution By Month:

January . . . . . . 18

February. . . . . . 8

March . . . . . . . 8

April . . . . . . . 9

May . . . . . . . . 6

June. . . . . . . . 10

July. . . . . . . . 10

August. . . . . . . 9

September . . . . . 6

October . . . . . . 12

November. . . . . . 6

December. . . . . . 18

___

Total 120

Class of Buildings:

1 Story Frame . . . . . 103

2 Story Frame . . . . . 13

¹/₂ Story Frame . . . . 2

1 ¹/₂ Story Frame . . . 1

3 Story Frame . . . . . 1

___

Total 120

OTHER THAN STRUCTURAL FIRES

Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218

Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Rubbish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Smoke Scare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Brush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Miscellaneous Runs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

False Alarms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Tree and Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Dump. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Power Pole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Lumber Pile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

House Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Rekindle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Sawdust Piles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Airplane Crash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Railroad Ties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Freight Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Drowning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

____

539

CAUSES OF ALARMS AND FIRES

Bonfire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Cigarettes and Matches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Out of District Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Smoke Scare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Children and Matches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Miscellaneous Causes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Electrical Short. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Flue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Undetermined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Permit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Sparks - Incinerator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Motor Short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

False Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Furnace - Heater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Spontaneous Ignition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Vehicle Accident. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Incendiary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Stove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Oveheated Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

False Alarm - Malicious . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Rekindle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Defective Wiring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Explosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Sparks - Chimney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Brakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Sparks - RR Engine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Drowning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Fireplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

____

659

Fires Out Upon Arrival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

EQUIPMENT CHART

_______________________________________________________________________

Engine Feet of Hose Water Vol. Pump Hi-Press. Radio Locations

No. 2 ¹/₂" 1 ¹/₂" 3/4" Gals. G.P.M Pump GPM

_______________________________________________________________________

#1 500 350 400 400 250 60 3-way Oakmead

2 500 350 400 400 250 60 " Quito *

3 500 350 400 400 250 60 " Cambrian *

4 1000 350 400 500 500 40 " Alum Rock *

5 1000 350 400 500 500 40 " Cupertino *

6 1250 350 200 200 500 Booster " Cottage Gr.

7 500 350 200 300 200 Booster " San Tomas

8 1000 350 400 500 600 40 " Alum Rock

9 2000 500 200 500 1500 Booster " H.Q. **

Hose

#1 1500 300 H.Q.

Tanker

#1 100 300 2000 500 Rvcr.# Cambrian

2 100 500 2000 500 " # Oakmead

3 100 300 2000 500 " # Cupertino

4 100 200 2150 500 " # Quito

5 100 300 2000 500 " # Alum Rock

6 100 300 2000 500 " # H.Q. **

7 100 300 2000 500 " # Evergreen **

Pickups

#1 350 200 3-Way H.Q.

2 200 100 5 " H.Q.

3 200 100 5 " H.Q.

Flood ##

Lite #1 H.Q.

_______________________________________________________________________

Total 10850 6000 3400 18050 8050 310

_______________________________________________________________________

Spare Hose 1550 ft. of 2 ¹/₂ inch and 1800 ft. of 1 ¹/₂ inch.

* These stations equipped with selective calling by radio.

# 3-Way radio in stock, Waiting installation.

## Five 500 watt floodlights.

** On order.

HOSE, CHEMICAL, LADDERS, AND ETC. USED AT FIRES

_______________________________________________________________________

Booster

2 ¹/₂" Hose 1 ¹/₂" Hose Water C.T.C. CO 2 Ladders Back

Feet. Feet Gals. Gals. Lbs. Feet Pumps

_______________________________________________________________________

10,300 21,700 240,345 1 75 956 41

=======================================================================

HOSE IN SERVICE

_______________________________________________________________________

2 ¹/₂" Hose 1 ¹/₂" Hose

Double Single Double Single High Pressure Booster

Jacket Jacket Jacket Jacket Hose Line

_______________________________________________________________________

11,100' 1,300' 7,250' 550' 2,800' 600'

=======================================================================

HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY

Hydrants in service at end of 1948 93

Hydrants in service at end of 1949 119

Hydrants on order 31

A water survey is being conducted on the East side by Engine
#3. This information is being evaluated, and coordinated with our maps
and responding code.

To date 424 surveys and inspections have been made, uncovering
many excellent sources of water supply.

This also gives the Engineers an opportunity to famaliarize (sic)
themselves with building layouts, hazards, roads, lanes, and etc. Much
valuable information has been developed by this work, and all reports
are on hand for further study.

This does not put the Engine in that district out of service
while making the survey, as it is in constant touch by 3-way radio.

APPARATUS IN SERVICE

ENGINE COMPANY #1 OAKMEAD STATION

F. M. C. six-cylinder International KBS-7, 250 gallon low-pressure
pump, 60 GPM high-pressure pump, 400 gallon water tank, carrying 600
feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 300 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose and two reels of
200 feet each high-pressure hose. Equipped with three-way radio.

ENGINE COMPANY #2 QUITO STATION

F. M. C. six-cylinder International KBS-7, 250 gallon low-pressure
pump, 60 GPM high-pressure pump, 400 gallon water tank, carrying 500
feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 300 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose and two reels of
200 feet each high-pressure hose. Equipped with three-way radio.
Placed in service in 1948.

ENGINE COMPANY #3 CAMBRIAN STATION

F. M. C. six-cylinder International KBS-7, 250 gallon low-pressure
pump, 60 GPM high-pressure pump, 400 gallon water tank, carrying
500 feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 300 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose and two reels
of 200 feet each high-pressure hose. Equipped with three-way radio.
Placed in service in 1948.

ENGINE COMPANY #4 ALUM ROCK STATION

Van Pelt six-cylinder White WB-20, 500 gallon low-pressure pump, 40
GPM high-pressure Hardie pump, 500 gallon water tank, carrying 1000
feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 400 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose and two reels of
200 feet each high-pressure hose. Equipped with three-way radio.
Placed in service in 1948.

ENGINE COMPANY #5 CUPERTINO STATION

Van Pelt six-cylinder White WB-20, 500 gallon low-pressure pump, 40
GPM high-pressure Hardie pump, 500 gallon water tank, carrying 1000
feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 350 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose and two reels of
200 feet each high-pressure hose. Equipped with three-way radio.
Placed in service in 1948.

ENGINE COMPANY #6 COTTAGE GROVE STATION

Fabco six-cylinder Dodge, 500 gallon Hale pump, 200 gallon water tank,
carrying 1250 feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 200 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose
and 200 feet of booster hose, with a divided hose bed. Equipped with
three-way radio. Placed in service in 1941.

ENGINE COMPANY #7 SAN TOMAS STATION

Six-cylinder 1938 Dodge, 200 GPM capacity Hale pump, 300 gallon water
tank, carrying 600 feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 300 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose
and 200 feet of booster hose. Placed in service in 1948.

ENGINE COMPANY #8 ALUM ROCK STATION

Six-cylinder 1948 White, 600 GPM capacity Hale three-stage pump. 500
gallon water tank carrying 1,000 feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 350 feet of
1 ¹/₂ inch hose, and 400 feet of booster hose. Placed in service in 1949.

TANKER COMPANY #1 CAMBRIAN STATION

Six-cylinder International KB-11, 451 COE, 2,000 gallon water tank,
500 GPM capacity pump, and 300 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose. Equipped with
one-way radio. Place in service in 1947.

TANKER COMPANY #2 OAKMEAD STATION

Six-cylinder International KB-11, 451 COE, 2,000 gallon water tank,
500 GPM capacity pump, and 300 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose. Equipped with
one-way radio. Place in service in 1947.

TANKER COMPANY #3 CUPERTINO STATION

Six-cylinder International KB-11, 451 COE, 2,000 gallon water tank,
500 GPM capacity pump, and 400 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose. Equipped with
one-way radio. Place in service in 1947.

TANKER COMPANY #4 QUITO STATION

Six-cylinder Auto-Car, 501 COE, 2,150 gallon water tank, 100 GPM
booster pump, 250 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose. Equipped with one-way radio.
Place in service in 1948.

TANKER COMPANY #5 ALUM ROCK STATION

Six-cylinder White WB-20, 2,000 gallon water tank, 500 GPM capacity
pump, and 400 feet of 1 ¹/₂ inch hose. Placed in service in 1949.

HOSE COMPANY #1 COTTAGE GROVE STATION

Hedberg 1936 Ford V-8, 1300 feet of 2 ¹/₂ inch hose and 200 feet of 1 ¹/₂
inch hose, with a divided hose bed. Placed in service in 1936.

FLOOD LIGHT TRAILER CAMBRIAN STATION

Five K.W. Equipped with six 500 watt flood lights with ample quantity
of extension cords. This was purchased through war surplus in 1947.

PICKUP #1

Six-cylinder International KB-1, one-half ton, 100 gallon water tank,
five GPM high-pressure F. M. C. pump, 200 feet of high-pressure hose.
Equipped with three-way radio. Placed in service in 1947.

PICKUP #2

Six-cylinder Dodge, one ton, 100 gallon water tank, five GPM high-
pressure F. M. C. pump, 200 feet of high-pressure hose. Equipped
with three-way radio. Placed in service in 1948.

PICKUP #3

Six-cylinder heavy-duty industrial-type motor. F-2 Express Ford,
three-quarter ton, four-speed transmission, one-hundred gallon water
tank, five GPM high-pressure F. M. C. pump, 200 feet of high-pressure
hose, equipped with three-way radio. Placed in service in August 1949.

CHIEF'S CAR

Eight-cylinder V-8 Mercury four-door sedan, three-speed transmission
with overdrive. Equipped with three-way radio. Placed in service
in July 1949.

DIVISION OF TRAINING

Drills for paid men numbered 61 for a total of 325
man hours.

Drills for volunteers numbered 13 for a total of 146
man hours.

As this report goes to press a five week course is
being completed. This course is for all paid men, volunteers,
and sleepers. Twenty-two sessions and drills are being held,
for a total of 961 man hours. This course included "Use of
Fire apparatus and Equipment - Salvage Operations." Certif-
icates of completion are awarded each man.

This course was conducted by The California State
Department of Education, Dr. Roy E. Simpson, Superintendent
of Public Instruction; Thomas S. Ward, Supervisor of Fire
Training; and Nelson H. Wagner, Instructor.

* RADIO *

During the year 1949 the County Communication Department's
coordinated dispatch center received from the taxpayer and dis-
patched equipment on atotal (sic) of 659 fire alarms. A total of 25,046
messages were handled by radio between the dispatch center and
the Fire Department's mobile and fixed units.

The Federal Communications Commisssion in October 1949
authorized the construction and operation of four transmitting and
receiving stations as part of the Selective Calling Fire Alarm
System for the four permanent fire houses. The construction was
completed in late December and was put into operation in the same
months. These four stations are now dispatched by use of the sel-
ective calling system; thereby allowing the alarm to be given to
the responding station within fifteen seconds after being received
from the taxpayer.

The following fire department vehicles are radio equip-
ped:

1 - Chief's car (3 way)

3 - Asst. Chief's pickups (3 way)

7 - Engines (3 way)

4 - Tankers (receivers only)

Three way radio equipment is in stock and pending instal-
lation on the five tankers.

The Communications Department made new radio installations
on Pickup #3 and Engine #8, and removed and reinstalled radio equip-
ment on the Chief's car and Pickup #1.

Radio maintenance on fire department equipment neces-
sitated a total of thirty-five frequency measurements, and a total
of thirty servicing and general meintenance (sic) checks.

FIRE PREVENTION

During Fire Prevention Week all service clubs cooperated by
devoting their meetings to regular Fire Prevention Programs. Two
radio stations broadcasted spot announcements in the interest of Fire
Prevention. The local press was particularly helpful in their wide-
spread publicity.

All schools were visited during Fire Prevention Week, where
fire drills were held for 9.942 pupils. The average time for vacating
buildings was sixty-five seconds, which is very gratifying.

During County Fair Week an exhibit booth was set up in the
Agricultural Tent where all types of fire extinguishers were displayed
and demonstrated. A total of 5,900 persons visited this display and
5,000 Fire Prevention pamphlets and 5,000 fire telephone cards were
given out.

Fire Prevention addresses by Chief Officers 15

Complaints investigated 209

Rest and Children Homes inspections 59

Gasoline tank inspections 90

Gasoline permits 36

Gasoline permits by other districts 12

Special service jobs 19

Special surveys by Chief Officers 28

Numerous inspections were made in conjunction with other offices
including Building, Electrical, and Health Departments.

All fires are investigated to determine their origin. Records
of all important facts are kept, including insurance carried, agents,
and adjusters, loss paid, and etc.

Acknowledgement is made to the Sheriff's Office, District At-
torney's Office, Photographer, Crime Laboratory, National Board of
Fire Underwriters, and all other agencies for their excellent co-
operation in this very important activity.

A forward step in Fire Prevention has been made. We have Ord-
inance #378 which controls burning. Ordinance #405 on Flammable Liq-
uids, which also contains the National Fire Prevention Associations
recommended ordinance on tank trucks. Liquified Petroleum Gases are
controlled by Ordinance #404 which is the State Safety Orders on Bu-
tane and Propane.

FACTORS REGARDING GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY

During 1949 the public schools within the Central Fire Dist-
rict had a total enrollment of 9942, an increase of 1187 over the
previous year.

During 1949 the San Jose Water Works installed 163,000 feet
of new water mains.

Dr. Roy. E. Simpson, Supertindent (sic) of Public Instruction, re-
ported an enrollment of 58,000 pupils in Santa Clara County in 1949,
which is a 15.6 increase over the previous year.