Show A A Good Start on Fire Safety T LAVERE M. M HANSON former captain has been made Salt Lake City fire chief as the first official step in the efforts of city officials dials to reorganize the fire department and Improve its facilities discipline and efficiency The Telegram believes the commission has made an excellent choice of a new chief We sincerely trust however that the effort to es es- establish establish the department on a sound basis will not I stop there There is much more to be done if H the faults cited in the report of Jay W. W Stevens Stevens Ste Ste- vens chief of fire Investigation for the National National National Na Na- Board of Fire Underwriters are t to be corrected First there is the matter of faulty training inefficiency lack of discipline and m ment nt jealousy It would seem that the two men who were in charge of fire department operations operations op op- in recent years former Chief Walter S. S Knight and Assistant Chief William J. J Hancock Hancock Han Han- cock must share the responsibility for these difficulties and that they should likewise share equally In jn any disciplinary action by the city commission Second there is the matter of inadequate fire lire protection due to insufficient men stations stations sta sta- and equipment It is up to the new fire chief and the city commission to decide just how much must be done to bring the department department department depart depart- ment up to standard from the standpoint of men and facilities facilities and and then do it Third there is the matter of lack of enforcement enforcement en of fire s safety fety laws in the city Correction Correction Correction Cor Cor- of this defect calls not only for immediate immediate immediate imme imme- diate attention and activity by the fire department department depart depart- ment but for greater cooperation and support by the city commissioners and city officials gen gen- It may call for some new ordinances Whatever is required to insure that Salt Lake buildings are safe properly equipped with fire escapes and exits with adequate protective devices devices devices de de- de- de vices and with all possible fire hazards eliminated eliminated eliminated sh should uld be carried out with a spirit of d determination termination by the new chief and the city commission working in close cooperation Fourth there is the matter of charges that the civil service commission has exceeded its authority by meddling in the affairs of the fire department thus contributing to insubordination insubordination insubordination and inefficiency These charges have been made publicly and the civil service commission commission com com- mission itself has asked that a public hearing be held to sift those charges That should be done For the sake of the fire department the commission and the city the true situation situation situation situa situa- tion as to the civil service commission should be established If the commission has been at fault then steps to 10 correct the fault can be taken If the commission has not been at fault then the members will be cleared of the charges and official attention can be concentrated concentrated concentrated concen concen- on correcting the real defects in the fire departments department's operation The Telegram congratulates Chief Hanson on his on-his his appointment and wishes him every success suc suc- cess It also congratulates the city commission commis commiss si sign sion n on its choice and calls their attention to the fact that it is the duty of the entire commission commission com com- mission to give the new chief its full support and cooperation in completing the job of setting setting setting set set- ting the city's fire protection ho house se in order |