The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-05
LARGE FIRES.
gWzaAr TEHEr GEHHEEa ENGINEER OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS ABOUT
HMOM @HUTTEW5.
The Causes of the Immense Destruction
of Property by Fire, and the


In the last three Or four months 6n1S clty |
has been the scene of many large and destruc- |
tive fires, large amounts Of property have
been lost, and many merchants have become |
almost bankrupt by the devastation OF the
flames. This wholesale destruction has been |
attributed, in great extent, to the iron shut |
ters used on nearly all Of the wholesale and
large retail business houses in this city. 1t
has been said that these blinds acted as an
impediment to the fire department In their
efforts to
GAIN READY ACCESS
to the flames. This matter has been talked
of so often that the DEMOCRAT concluded to
investigate the matter, and therefore dis
patched 81 representative of the paper to inter-
view Mr. Thomas O'Connor, the chief engineer
of the fire department, he being considered to
possess more knowledge on this subject than
any one else in the city.
Arriving at the residence OF Mr. OConnor,
on Julia street, the reporter sent in his card
and was received by Mr.. O'Connor.
Reporter-Mr. OConnor, called to see il
you would give me some information in rela-
tion to the iron shutters used ON buildings,
and as to their being impediments to the
rapid extinguishing Of fires.
lIr. O'Connor-I will most willingly give
you all the information in my power.
Rep.-Why is it that after ali the talk there
has been on the subject, that the insurance
men still take risks on buildings provided
with these shutters :?
Mr.. OC.-The underwriters have always
considered that the risks were safer OH build
ings provided with these shutters than on
those that are not.
Rep-Why is this
MI. OC.-Because they think the adjoining
buildings are'5afer with these shutters, and
that the fire cannot
CROSS THE STREET
when they are used. But they are beginning
to find out their mistake, as was the case in
the fire at Levys crockery store, on Maga-
zine street. The alarm in that case was given
very early; the salvage corps and the tire de-
partment were promptly on the ground, but
the building being fastened up with iron shut
ters from the second to the fourth floors there
WAS no available means Of getting at the seat
OF the fire. consequently it burned out the
entire building and communicated to the
house in the rear.
Rep-Can you give me any illustration of
the good effects of other shutters at this fire?
Mr.. O'C.-Yes. AS an illustration OF the
evil effects
OF IRON SHUTTERS,
and the good produced by open windows, I
will state that the building adjoining Levys,
which was occupied by Hansell IL Co. as 81
SauQIefy SJOfe, LOOk ifS Ill the EOOi: lueIe
were no iron shutters on this building, and
the fire was discovered almost Immediately
by means of the light showing through the
open sash. We were at once able to enter the
building, and the flames, were ,extinguished
with the aid OF only one chemical engine.
Rep.-What sir, in your opinion, Is the REM
edy for this evil !?
Mr. O'C-The remedy lies altogether with
the Board Of Underwriters and the insurance
men, The trouble aud great delay we expert
If,pTo IN 70 uJyortnH q n6rpprt If aptinn
the part of the underwriters and insurance
agencies in regulating their premiums and
making it obligatory on all policy. holders,
occupying buildings which are furnished with
iron shutters, to leave the
CENTRE WINDOW SHUTTERS
in each story above the second floor open. By
this means fires could be discovered in their
incipiency by either private WatChmen, patrol
men Or pedestrians, who, on seeing the
flames, would, Of course, at once give the
alarm, and upon the arrival OF the fire de-
partment the members would be able to enter
the building
WITHOUT DELAY,
and thus be enabled to extinguish the flames
promptly, before all traces of the origin Of the
fire had been destroyed.
Rep.-It is thought that the fire at the Dol
lar Store Thursday gained considerable head
way by the delay caused by these iron
shutters?
Mr. O'C-In reference to the fire at the
Dollar Store, | will say, had the shutters of
this building been SO constructed as to admit
the tremen at once upon their arrival, am
sure, from the determined efforts made by
pipemen and the
GREAT FACILITIES
at hand, that / can assert that that fire would
have been eXtinguished in the third story
where it originated. Several attempts were
made to spring open the iron shutters by the
hook and ladder men with picks and crow
bars, but owing to the intense smoke which
at times enveloped them, and the great diff
Guilty experienced in handling their imple-
rnentS while Oh q ladder, their efforts proved
futile. During this stage Of the fire, seeing
they had failed to open the shutters, ordered
an opening] to be made through the divisions
between the other houses, but the adjoining
stores being filled to large extent with
smoke I had to abandon this course, as the
men could not enter in this way. | again
| made 8 last and
effort to open the shutters from the outside
| and succeeded. Notwithstanding the fire had
| burned fully an hour. and the greater part Of
| the roof was in flames, we succeeded, through
| this opening, IL saving portion OF the front
| Of the roof.
Rep.-What do you think should be done
| to change this state OF things?
Mr.. O'C.-I think the occupants Of build
| ings should dispense entirely with iron shut
| ters on the upper parts OF buildings in the
front and above the second story.
Rep-Has this matter ever been a subject
of discussion to any extent?
| Mr.. O'C.-The subject has been under dis
cussion, to my knowledge, for many years,
and it has been claimed that, in addition to it's
being protection against fire, it acted as a
/ protection
| AGAINST BURGLARS.
But that's all folly. A burglar will never at
tempt to enter building from the upper
Stories especially when he has to use ladder
| to reach the windows.
Rep.-Could not iron bars or something of
that kind be used, and which would be just as
efficacious.
Mr.. OC.-I think SO. Iron bars Or grating
could be placed in the windows and answer
all purposes claimed for the shutters, and we
could easily gain an entrance by chopping
| them open.
| Rep-Have there never been any means
invented by which these iron shutters could
| be opened?
| Mr. O'C.-There are patent fastenings for
the purpose. There are now in several Of the
| Southwestern cities fasteningS by which these
| shutters are opened from the outside, simply