Arrest People Who Interfere With Fire Fighters, Says Fire Chief Mack Wallace, Jan. 22, 1922

Interfere With Firemen; Cars Seized. . . Chief Wallace Proposes to Teach Lesson, He Says After Night Blaze

Interference with the fire department in the course of its duty by automobiles running in front of the trucks and over hose lines laid in the street became so annoying Saturday night when the department extinguished a threatening fire in the 500 block of West First street that several persons were arrested and the numbers of several cars were taken with the purpose of arresting their owners later.

The fire originated in a negro house in the 500 block with alighted lamp turned ovr and ignited the window curtains. It spread to three houses before the fire was extinguished and two of the houses were burned rather badly.

“The public must learn,” said Chief Mack Wallace after the fire had been quenched by splendid work under adverse conditions, “that it is against the law for persons in cars or afoot or by any other method to interfere with firemen when they are on duty trying to prevent spread of fire, and the only way the realization of this fact can be brought about is, apparently, by arresting persons guilty of it.

“It is not only extremely dangerous for both the firemen and for persons rushing to a fire in automobile, but it is a violation of the law and hereafter persons guilty of these offenses will be arrested.

“The requirement is that when the fire bell sounds and the trucks come out the public vehicles on the street shall pull up to the sidewalk and allow the trucks free and untrammeled passage. This rule is a very just one, as everybody ought to realize because it is the duty of firemen to get to the fire as soon as possible and subdue it.”

Chief Wallace said that several person violated one of the plainest regulations last night by driving their automobiles over hose lines lying in the street and that the curious public crowded forward to such an extent that the firemen were handicapped in running the hose lines to the hydrants and getting quick action. Policemen were called and a number of car numbers taken and other steps taken to impress upon offenders the seriousness of interfering with firemen on duty. Some of the offenders will probably be in recorder’s court Monday morning.

From The Charlotte News, Sunday, January 22, 1922