The Insurance Man Saved the Fire Department

Finding that mere admonition fails to penetrate the cuticle of some people, the city council has decided to employ more drastic measures with the auto driver who thinks the city streets were built for speedways. — [See speeding item.]

Plans to reduce the membership of Kennewick's volunteer fire department came to a sudden halt at the regular meeting of the city council Tuesday evening when a letter was read from Washington State Insurance Surveyor Lee McKenzie. The surveyor informed the council that the fire insurance rates now effective are based upon the city's present fire fighting force, and that any reduction in the membership of the department will be followed by an immediate advance in the insurance rates. The surveyor was taken at his word and the council immediately dropped their reduction plan.

At a previous meeting the fire and fire limits committee had been instructed to confer with the officers of the fire department with a view of reducing the membership of the department to eight men. At Tuesday's meeting Chairman Anderson of the committee reported that a reduction to 12 men might be made, but a greater reduction hardly seemed possible. Dean Coulson, S. B. Nichols and T. J. Wright, representing the department, were present. Mr. Coulson submitted a condensed report of the work of the department this year, showing that although the membership has ranged between 18 and 21 men, there have been but an average of nine men on duty at the fourteen fires. As the firemen receive pay only for responding to a call and for the time they are engaged in fighting fire, the city, regardless of the larger membership, has only been paying for nine men.

Mr. Coulson and other representatives pointed out the uncertainty of depending upon outsiders, and stated that with a membership of eight there would be times when it would be impossible to handle the equipment without relying on outside help. There are at the present time 21 men on the department's roster, three of whom are out of the city.

It is the intention, the firemen reported, to elect new officers, adopt new rules and to otherwise reorganize the department with a view to greater efficiency. One new rule which will be put into effect is limiting to half pay for the first hour all members who do not arrive at the fire in time to assist in connecting the hose. Rules will also be adopted to provide for regular fire drills.

The department was instructed by the council to proceed with the reorganization and to report at the next meeting. Instead of a reduction, the council's action will probably result in a better organized and more efficient fire fighting force.