Camden Courier-Post, March 23, 1963View transcription
—Courier-Post Photo by Sam Kushner
GEORGE BAXTER, Camden's new Chief Combustible Inspector, examines one of the 3,000 fire inspection reports on file in his department. The reports he uses to brief district fire chiefs on the latest potential fire hazards in their zones.
Relax With Job, Credo of City's Fire Inspector
"When I want to relax, I grab a fire book and bury myself in it. You would probably call that crazy."
The words are George Baxter's, new chief combustible inspector of Camden since Jan. 1 and a 13-year veteran of the fire department.
The imposing title is a new civil service designation for fire marshal, the office which supervises all fire prevention activities in the city.
As the new man in the job, the 43-year-old Baxter brings to it plenty of technical know-how.
"You have to," he says candidly. "It's a full time job just keeping up on the latest developments in this business."
"This business," as he puts it, is something Baxter "lives, eats, and sleeps."
He studies it as well.
* * *
HIS HOMEWORK goes back to his first day with the department in 1950.
"On the way home I picked up a copy of "A Fire Chief's Handbook" for $4.50, took it home and studied it." he says.
His home at 151 N. 35st. today contains a fire book collection he values at $350. Many an evening he'll slip away from his wife and five daughters and relax by reading up on a technical fire problem.
His knowledge of the fire business was a handy asset last October when he competed with 11 local fire captains in a civil service examination for the job he now holds. As the top scorer, he was promoted to inspector by Camden Fire Chief Edward R. MacDowell.
The new inspector has attended several fire courses over the years and to prove it has "enough certificates to paper a wall."
His favorite, though, is a fancy, gold-bordered parchment which honors him with membership in Her Majesty's Royal Fire Brigade.
"They probably thought I deserved it for buying so many books through their British Fire Service," he comments.
* * *
AS CHIEF combustible inspector he heads a five-man department that inspects the city's industrial and merchantile establishments, schools and hospitals, correcting fire hazards and fire code violations.
The department checks out all residential fire complaints. It supervises fire-drill evacuations in the city's schools; instructs in the use of basic fire fighting appliances; campaigns for fire safety; investigates arson, false alarms—and among other things is now in the midst of updating 3,000 fire inspection reports.
Baxter uses the reports to brief district fire chiefs on the latest potential fire hazards in their zones.
His approach to the job is one of a crusader. And his department, he will tell you, is on a perpetual crusade to save lives.
"To this aim," he says, "we don't overlook the slightest fire hazard."
To make that point stronger he adds:
"If we do our job right not an engine-wheel in the department will have to turn."
To this aim the new inspector approaches his duties like a man on fire.
Camden Courier-Post, March 23, 1963View transcription
GEORGE BAXTER, Camden's new Chief Combustible Inspector, examines one of the 3,000 fire inspection reports on file in his department. The reports he uses to brief district fire chiefs on the latest potential fire hazards in their zones.
—Courier-Post Photo by Sam Kushner
GEORGE BAXTER, Camden's new Chief Combustible Inspector, examines one of the 3,000 fire inspection reports on file in his department. The reports he uses to brief district fire chiefs on the latest potential fire hazards in their zones.
"When I want to relax, I grab a fire book and bury myself in it. You would probably call that crazy."
The words are George Baxter's, new chief combustible inspector of Camden since Jan. 1 and a 13-year veteran of the fire department.
The imposing title is a new civil service designation for fire marshal, the office which supervises all fire prevention activities in the city.
As the new man in the job, the 43-year-old Baxter brings to it plenty of technical know-how.
"You have to," he says candidly. "It's a full time job just keeping up on the latest developments in this business."
"This business," as he puts it, is something Baxter "lives, eats, and sleeps."
He studies it as well.
* * *
HIS HOMEWORK goes back to his first day with the department in 1950.
"On the way home I picked up a copy of "A Fire Chief's Handbook" for $4.50, took it home and studied it." [sic] he says.
His home at 151 N. 35st. [sic] today contains a fire book collection he values at $350. Many an evening he'll slip away from his wife and five daughters and relax by reading up on a technical fire problem.
His knowledge of the fire business was a handy asset last October when he competed with 11 local fire captains in a civil service examination for the job he now holds. As the top scorer, he was promoted to inspector by Camden Fire Chief Edward R. MacDowell.
The new inspector has attended several fire courses over the years and to prove it has "enough certificates to paper a wall."
His favorite, though, is a fancy, gold-bordered parchment which honors him with membership in Her Majesty's Royal Fire Brigade.
"They probably thought I deserved it for buying so many books through their British Fire Service," he comments.
* * *
AS CHIEF combustible inspector he heads a five-man department that inspects the city's industrial and merchantile [sic] establishments, schools and hospitals, correcting fire hazards and fire code violations.
The department checks out all residential fire complaints. It supervises fire-drill evacuations in the city's schools; instructs in the use of basic fire fighting appliances; campaigns for fire safety; investigates arson, false alarms—and among other things is now in the midst of updating 3,000 fire inspection reports.
Baxter uses the reports to brief district fire chiefs on the latest potential fire hazards in their zones.
His approach to the job is one of a crusader. And his department, he will tell you, is on a perpetual crusade to save lives.
"To this aim," he says, "we don't overlook the slightest fire hazard."
To make that point stronger he adds:
"If we do our job right not an engine-wheel in the department will have to turn."
To this aim the new inspector approaches his duties like a man on fire.
