The Fire Department’s Tardy Response

The deficiencies of the fire department, treated elsewhere in detail in this issue, it should be understood, are not solely to be blamed against the members of the organization. The chief and his men do all that can reasonably be expected of men under the circumstances and upon the terms of their service; but the fact remains that the city has little or no protection against fire. Response to alarms even in the heart of the city is tardy, while in outlying districts there is oftener than otherwise no response whatever. This is due, not to a want of spirit on the part of the firemen, but to the fact that their service in the department is merely incidental to their regular business, and much of their time is passed in miscellaneous pursuits. They cannot, in the nature of things, cease together and do the prompt work which could be expected from a disciplined force held to be ready at all times. There are no engines on the hill, and it is obviously quite impossible to drag the heavy machines up and down the heavy grades a distance of a mile or more in time to do efficient work in the outskirts. Seattle needs a fully equipped and paid fire department. No other organization for fire protection can be efficient in a scattered and hilly city like this. There is no economy in putting the matter off, for besides the danger of delay we pay each year five times the cost of maintaining an efficient department in advanced insurance rates.