Possible Fireworks in Fire Department

A five-alarm conflagration is smoldering at the Dallas Fire Department. The present Fire Chief, Merrell C. Hen-drix, is expected to retire sometime this year, and the man who could possibly succeed him, Assistant Chief E. E. Spillman, is widely disliked within the department.

The fire department has enjoyed a sacrosanct position in the last few years, and unlike the police department, has had very little internal strife. But now, the match has been struck.

Spillman is considered a rigid, unfair disciplinarian. He often cuts across administrative boundaries to interfere in the day-to-day activities which are not in his area of responsibility. Spillman also reportedly berates his subordinates, embarrassing them in front of each other.

Spillman has incurred the animosity of the Professional Fire Fighters Association, which represents a majority of the city’s smoke-eaters. The PFFA dislikes Spillman so much, that they do not invite him to their annual Christmas party. Spillman, however, goes anyway.

An assistant fire chief who retired recently sent a lengthy letter to Hendrix explaining that if he had to deal with Spillman any longer he might not be responsible for his actions. The tone of the letter was alarming.

The man most liked within the fire department is Assistant Chief Ernest Emerson, who commands the fire prevention bureau. Emerson has kept himself aloof from Spillman, who is aligned with two other assistant chiefs, Hubert Paris and George Russell.

Sources around City Hall speculate that City Mgr. George Schrader will give Emerson the nod over Spillman in order to preserve the peace, and prevent the possibility of mass retirement of a number of the veteran firemen who openly dislike Spillman.