LEICESTER'S 'MODERN FIRE BRIGADE.
Page 18
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By changing over from horse-drawn appliances to motor-driven engines of the latest type, Leicester's fire-fighting arrangements have within recent years undergone marked improvements. But, excellent as are the mechanical resources, the brigade's work has been handicapped by the want of an adequate fire station. A proposal to erect a new depot, with firemen's dwellings contiguous thereto, 1235
at an estimated cost of £51,754, formed the subject of a Government inquiry which was held a few days ago, when, in support of the need for a change, it was pointed out by the chief officer that the existing buildings were constructed to accommodate two horsed engines, and had now to house eight motor vehicles, and the entrance was so built that inconvenience and loss -of time were caused
in setting out to the scene of a fire.
It transpired also in the course of the inquiry, at which the necessity for the new station was made manifest, that the fire-engines are generally driven through the streets at a speed of 35 miles per hour, and Mr. Neal stated that the speed had been increased to 48 m.p.h. when the thoroughfares were not being used by much traffic.