The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-08
WHOLE NO. 217I
FIRES IN DWELLINGS.
FEW HOUSES HAVE MEANS or Es-
CAPE EXCEPT The DooRwAYs.

A Trapdoor In the Roof seems to Be the
Only Suggestion For Means OF Escape
In Case the Stairway Of a House In the
City Is on Fire During tire Night.
Two deaths from suffocatioa in a burn
ing dwelling have again called the stten-
ton Of all thinking people to the fact
that dwelling houses are not provided
with any practical means Of escape in
case Of FIRE occurring in the lower floor
during the night Investigation by re-
porter shows that the law is mute on
the subject Of escapes from dwellings.
Neither the laws governing the bureau Of
building inspectors nor those applying to
the bUreau Of FIRE touch on the subject
Both bureaus agree IN Saving that some
means Of exit other than the stairwsys
should be provided, and both favor the
introduction Of trapdoors in the roofs as
the most feasible and most elective plan.
II IS stated on good authority that these
trapdOOrs. while enc Of the best means
Of escape, cannot be found IN more thaa
one house in 20 on the average through
the city.
Chief Baxter OF the FIRE department
ard president Of the bureau Of FIRE
escapes said: There were !. .53I fires last
year, and 4s5 Of these were in dwellings.
Fortunately but few people met their
deaths from dwelling house fires during
the year. This is Eot always the case.
however, and have seen quite a large
number Of fatal results from such fires
the deaths a few years ago as the re-
suit OF the Ere in the King residence at
Seventeenth and Pine streets, for in
stance, and many others not quite 50
appalling nor Of such prominence In
most Of these cases the fatality would
not have been 30 great had some means
Of escape. other than stairways. been
provided
There certainly should be some new
clause in our fire escape laws. and the
most important one would be one re-
quiring trapd0ors In the roof Of every
house, or some equally feasible means OF
exit. The present laws are particularly
stringent regarding fire escapes on hotels
n the city. bat neglect altogether the
dwellings. IL would seem more proper
70 take care Of The permanent population
than transient visitors TO the city, from
which class the hotels derive their in
come.
''Of the dwelling house fires which oc-
Cured last year" the chief continued.
''lf6 we're caused by defective hues. It
IS fair to presume that the majority Of
tires from this cause occur at night after
the fires have been fixed and the family
has retired In fixing heater fires for the
night the general method used Is 10 open
wide the ilue draft and close the bottom
draft. The heat ascends up the chimney
then. and any defect IN the fue may
cause a FIRE Before the family are
awakened the whole lower room may be
in flames. and escape by means Of the
stairway may be impossible. The family
would then probably have TO jump from
the windows, unless the house had one
OF the Illegal frame kitchens in the rear
They could then jump on that and
from there 70 the fence. IF trapdOors
were provided IN the roof. however. they
could easily ascend and escape either TO
an adjoining house CT 1t least escape suf- I
location by running along the roofs oct
OF danger until tie tire department. ar-
rived These trEpdoors have been sug-
gcsted, but il Is claimed that they would |
furnish means for burglars 10 enter the |
houses from those adjoining. The pop /
alar sentiment. though, would seem u /
indicate that most people prefer 70 take {
Chances Of being robbed OF few dollars I
than 10 take the risk Of be;ug burned 70 I
death
Harmon Bo0rse. a member Of both I
bureaG OF building inspectors ald the /
burean Of fire escapes. said be had always 1
been IN favor Of buillilg trapdoor5 il /
every house. The lav.- he sail. fer /
bids the erection Of f-lme kitchens. bet [
at present these furnish the only means 1
OF escape from dwelling after Cit by /
the stairway has been cut osT. Statistics (
prove that hTe very seldom occurs r. /
these cEtsi,le kitchens ! prominent il /
sUr.lncs agent told me only a dag or two 1
a-O. lie continued. --th.-t TIE majority 4
Of dwelling house fires were caused by /
defective hues II the cellars where the |
heater fGe enters the chimney
james C. Moore. 4 prominent builder I
from 200 10 eco dwellings q
year and Z member OF the Operative i
Builders association, denounced IN out-
spoken terms the present system Of build-
ing without providing = means Of escape 1
lrOIn the upper floors except Ey the
stairways. he said: 1T is an outrage
on the community.
As dwelling houses are built n thee
days, not enc IN eco On the average j.
provided with trapyio0r or scUttle IN
the roof l hive always favored tbs
manner Of building. - Fhiladelphia
Press