1893 August 29

The report of the Fire Commissioners for the fiscal year was filed with the Board of Supervisors yesterday. Its principal feature is a communication from Chief Sullivan making the following recommendations:

With great reluctance 1 am obliged to renew the recommendations of my predecessor in office, David Scannell, to increase the efficiency of the Fire Department by reorganizing it into a fully paid system whereby the entire force will be continually on duty.

The alarming increase in the number of fires each year is a warning of our approaching danger and should be headed. One large conflagration may at any time sweep our city into ashes. Nearly every city of note in the world has at some time or other been visited by large fire, and no one knows when San Francisco's time may come. Our city has been twice before visited by fires which have cost her enough money to maintain a properly equipped department for a generation. Our city is built almost entirely of wood and I think I can safely say that we have a smaller fire limit area than any other city or our size in the Union. We are far removed from any city with a fire department of sufficient size to give us the assistance we would require in a case calamity of this kind should visit us, and if our department cannot quench it, there is nothing we can do but blow down the surrounding blocks or burn it up.

Five years ago the average number of alarms of fire each month was about fifteen. Our monthly average this year is forty-one. This means that our dangers are increasing and that we should prepare ourselves for an approaching conflict. It is an old and truthful saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

In conclusion I recommend that every effort be made to have this department reorganized into a fully paid one. This city should also nave at least 5000 hydrants. The apparatus should be increased to thirty steam engines companies. ten truck companies and twelve chemical engine companies and a modern fireboat for the protection of the shipping and the waterfront.

New houses should be built for engines 7. 9, 10 and engine-house 19 should be remodeled.

Fifteen thousand feet of cotton hose should be purchased for the use of  the department.

The Corporation Yard should be remodeled in order that more of the repairs necessary to the apparatus or the department could be done by our mechanics, and the stable should be moved to some more central location.

A new ordinance regulating the erection of buildings in this city and county is sadly needed, the present ordinance being faulty and contradictory. 

I would further recommend that an ordinance be passed compelling all electric-light wires to be laid under ground, there being a great danger of fire from these wires strung on poles and over roofs of buildings during winter storms
Source: San Francisco Call, Volume 74, Number 90, 29 August 1893 — THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. [ARTICLE]