FIRE BILL.

23-115. Inclusive character of accompanying draft. In the preparation of the following suggested "fire bill" an effort has been made to include the specific conditions covered by the existing bills of all stations. It is advisable that a fire bill be as brief as possible, and each station should be careful to see that only those provisions which are applicable to existing local conditions are included in its particular draft. (See art. 1497-1 of Navy Regulations.)

23-116. Publicity essential. The fire bill should be printed in suitable form and thoroughly distributed and kept posted. Officers should insist upon persons under their supervision familiarizing themselves with the instructions of the bill.

2. Telephone chief telephone operator, giving exact location of fire. (For stations without fire-alarm systems, the following in lieu of 1 and 2: Spread the alarm, and see that telephone operator, power plant, and commanding officer are notified.) 3. Fight fire with appliances at hand.

Section II.

Diagram of station, showing location of station fire-
alarm boxes, city fire-alarm boxes, fire hydrants, and
fire-fighting apparatus.

Explanation of fire signals, with reference to designated zones or districts.
Signal stated for "fire out."

Days and time designated for fire drills.

Section III.

DUTIES IN CASE OF FIRE.

1. The senior line officer shall have general command at time of fire, but the fire chief shall be in charge of fire fighting. City fire chief shall be in full charge as soon as he arrives.

2. For a station in the vicinity of a city, town, or borough, it shall be the duty of the senior line officer to see that the city fire department is called immediately upon the sounding of the station alarm.

3. Telephone operator shall notify senior line officer, chief of power plant or pumping station, chief electrician, foreman plumber, and sentries at gates,

4. Sentries at gates shall open gates to permit entrance of outside fire department, and shall then close them, admitting only persons having duties to perform in connection with the fighting of fire, or those living within the station.

5. Officer (or the operator) in charge of power house or pumping station shall sound siren or whistle, supervise the operation of pumps, detail men to open or close gate valves, and see that schedule pressure is maintained on fire mains.

6. Chief electrician shall give attention to lighting and power circuits entering buildings involved in fire.

7. Foreman plumber shall give attention to gas shut-offs for buildings involved in fire; he shall also handle sprinkler control valves and other valves, if necessary, as directed by the fire chief or officer in charge.

8. The "duty officer" (or yard boatswain) shall see that everything is made ready to remove vessels from moorings, if necessary, and that fire boats and tugs are in readiness to assist in fighting fire. Fires under boilers of fire boats and tugs shall be kept banked at all times when not working (unless vessel is assigned as "duty tug").

9. Shop foremen other than those in buildings involved in fire will keep their men at work, see that all windows, doors, and skylights offering exposure are closed, and hold themselves in readiness to direct men in the operation of fire extinguishing appliances in accordance with fire drill regulations.

10. Yeomen and clerks shall see that windows, doors, and skylights are closed, and shall be prepared to remove or protect records in accordance with fire drill regulations. 11. Medical officers and hospital corpsmen shall be prepared to administer first aid and to assume charge of their stations in accordance with fire drill regulations. 12. Yardmaster shall see that railroad cars are moved so that they will not interfere with fighting fires, and to places of safety when necessary and possible.

13. Officer of the guard shall see that prisoners are removed to a place of safety, if there appears to be danger of fire communicating itself to brig.

14. Officers in command of enlisted men shall see that details are assigned to the preserving of fire lines and that no one is allowed inside of fire lines except those having to do with fire fighting, all in accordance with fire drill regulations.

15. Officers in charge of hangars shall see that seaplanes and dirigibles are removed from exposure to fire.

16. Station fire department shall respond to fires outside of station only on order of commanding officer. (See art. 1497-4, Navy Regulations.)

17. Should the chief of the power plant or pumping station have occasion to raise pressure on water mains at any time other than for fire or fire drill, he shall first notify the dry dock attendants or others using water from fire mains.

Section IV.

PRECAUTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRE.

1. Smoking is prohibited except in such places and at such times as are specified by the commanding officer.

2. Waste paper, rubbish, or refuse of any sort shall be put in receptacles provided for the purpose.

3. Oily waste or rags shall be kept in the separate metal cans provided for the purpose.

4. Greasy overalls or clothes, and painters' clothes, shall be kept hung up in lockers. 5. Clothing or other inflammable material must not be hung or laid on steam pipes or radiators.

6. No changes in electric wiring or fittings or attachment of electrical appliances shall be made except by order of the public works officer. Do not put paper shades on lights.

7. Gasoline, naphtha, or benzine shall not be used for any purpose except under orders, and shall never be dispensed in open cans.

8. Burning of rubbish, or bonfires, will not be permitted in the station unless specifically authorized.

9. Lanterns or open lights shall not be used unless specifically authorized.

10. Stoves of any kind, braziers, or salamanders shall not be used without permission.

11. Ashes must be put in the designated metal receptacles.

12. Foremen of garages, automobile repair shops, carpenter shops, plumbing shops, and paint shops will be held responsible for the orderly condition of their shops, and any one seen smoking in any of the above shall be summarily dealt with.

13. Combustible material of any kind shall not be stored or piled in any place except as ordered.

14. Packing materials shall be kept in the receptacles provided.

15. No gas connections shall be made except by order of the public works officer, and then only by means of rigid metal pipes.

16. Calcium carbide shall always be kept in the place provided for its storage. 17. Lump or unslaked lime shall be stored in a dry, noncombustible structure. 18. Moving-picture machines shall not be operated by any person not authorized to do so, and the films will not be allowed outside of the metal cases provided in the booths except when being used.

19. Paints and oils shall be kept only in the places provided for their storage; they shall be procured from storage houses as needed, and any surplus returned to storage houses at night.

CHAPTER 25.

MAINTENANCE AND FURNISHING OF QUARTERS.

Previous instrucat navy

25-01. Previous instructions superseded. tions entitled "Allowance of furniture for quarters yards and stations," published by this bureau under date of July 1, 1919, are canceled and superseded by the instructions contained herein.

25-02. Applicability of instructions. The instructions hereinafter set forth apply to such quarters and furniture therefor as are placed under the cognizance of this bureau by law, regulation, or established practice. Quarters are considered public works in the same sense as other buildings, and the exceptions as to the bureau's cognizance of the maintenance of public works have been indicated in Chapter 2 of the manual. "The furniture for all public works shall be provided and repaired by the Bureau of Yards and Docks except where otherwise provided by law." (N. R. 491.) Exceptions as to furniture for the fiscal year 1924 were: Navy Department, Washington; Naval Home, Philadelphia; branch hydrographic offices; Naval Observatory; naval ammunition depots; torpedo stations; naval ordnance plants; naval proving grounds; Naval Academy; Marine Corps establishments.

25-03. Instructions relating to furniture apply to quarters at naval hospitals. Orders for furniture for quarters at naval hospitals are placed by this bureau upon request of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. By agreement with that bureau (M. & S. file 132600-0 (33), March 20, 1919), the provisions of this chapter relating to the purchase and repair of furniture, furniture allowance lists, and furniture records and surveys, are made applicable to staff quarters at naval hospitals. All inventories, surveys, and receipts relating to such quarters should, however, be forwarded to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and not to this bureau.

25-04. Assignment of quarters. (a) Officers' quarters: "Public quarters at naval stations shall be permanently designated, in the order of their desirability, for occupancy by officers in the following

sequence, irrespective of rank, these designations not to be changed without authority of the Navy Department:

1. Captain of the yard.

2. Manager of the yard. (See alnav fifty-three, 25 June,

1921.)

3. Engineer officer.

4. Construction officer.
5. Medical officer.

6. Supply officer.

7. Public-works officer.

8. Aid to commandant.

9. Inspection officer.

10. Senior assistant in the machinery division.

11. Senior assistant in the hull division.

12. Senior assistant to the captain of the yard.

13. Senior assistant in the inspection department." (N. R. 1819-1.)

Correspondence should be forwarded to this bureau relative to changing the designation of any quarters whose structural maintenance is under its cognizance.

(b) Civilian quarters: Where public quarters are available for civilian employees, they shall be assigned by the commandant; such assignments, however, are not to be considered permanent designations, as in the case of officers' quarters.

25-05. Officers' quarters will be furnished in accordance with the furniture allowance lists hereinafter included. Mattresses, linen, tableware, and cooking utensils will not be furnished for married officers' quarters. Window hangings and portières will not be provided except as hereinafter authorized. Furniture for civilians' quarters may be provided only on specific authorization of the bureau. Window shades, curtain rods, ranges, stoves, plumbing, heating, and lighting fixtures, electric fans, fire screens, andirons, door and window screens, and awnings are considered permanent fixtures of the quarters and not furniture; such articles may be provided as necessary.

25-06. Specific additional service required in return for quarters furnished civilians. As directed in circular letter of the Secretary of the Navy, dated September 6, 1921, employees of the Naval Establishment within the continental limits of the United