The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-10
FIRES IN DWELLINGS.
FEW HOUSES HAVE MEANS OF Es-
CAPE EXCEPT THE DOORWAYS.


Only Suggestion For Means of Escape
In Case tho Stairway of n House In tho
City Is on Fire During the Night.
Two deaths from suffocation in burn
ing dwelling have again called tho attcn-
ton of all thinking people to the fact
that dwelling houses arc not provided
with any practical means of escape in
case of fire occurring i'll the lower floor
during the night. Investigation by a re-
porter shows that tho law is muto OH
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 i'll saying that somo
means of exit other than the stairwavs
should be provided, and both favor tho
introduction of trapdoors in the roofs as
the most feasible and most effective plan.
1t is stated on good authority that these
trapdoors, while ono of the best means
OF escape. cannot be found in moro than
one house i'll 200 on the average through
the city.
Chief Baxter of tho fire department
and president of the bureau of fire
escapes said: There were ,j3I 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 not always the case,
however. and | have seen quite Il largo
number of fatal results from such fires
tho deaths Il few years ago rs the re-
suit OF the fire i'll the King residence at
Seventeenth and Pine streets, for in
stance, and many others not quite SO
appalling nor of such prominence. In
most of these cases the fatality would
not have been so great had somo means
of escape, other than stairways, been
provided.
There certainly should be some new
clause III our fire escape laws, and tho
most important ono would be one re-
curing trapdoors III tho roof of every
house, or some equally feasible means of
exit. The present laws are particularly
stringent regarding fire escapes on hotels
Ill the city, but neglect altogether tho
dwellings. 1t would seem more proper
to 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 &C.
Cured last year." the chief continued,
"l4G were caused by defective flues. 1t
Is fair to presume that the majority of
fires from this cause occur ut night after
the fires have been fixed and the family
has retired. In fixing heater fires for the
night the general method used is to open
wide the Huc draft and close the bottom
draft. The heat ascends up the chimney
then. and any defect in the flue may
cause fire. Before the family are
awakened the whole lower room may he
in flames, and escape by means of the
stairway may be impossible. The family
would then probably have to jump from
the windows, unless tho house had ono
OF the illegal frame kitchens in the rear.
"Thcy could then jump OH that and
from there to tho fence. If trapdoors
were provided in tie roof, however, they
could easily ascend and escape either to
an adjoining house or at least escape suf-
location by running along the roofs out
of danger until tt. fire department ar
rived. These trardoors have been sug-
gested, but it is clIimed that they would
furnish means for burglars to enter the
houses from those adjoining. The pop
ular sentiment, though, would seem to
Indicate that most people prefer to take
chances of being robbed of few dollars
than TO take the risk of being burned to
death"
Harmon Boorse, member of both
bureau of building inspectors and the
bureau of fire escapes, said he had always
been i'll favor of building trapdoors in
every house. "The law" he said, "for-
bids the erection of frame Kitchens. but
at present these furnish tho only means
of escape from Il dwelling after exit bv
the stairway has been cut off. Statistics
provo that fire very seldom occurs in
these outside kitchens. a prominent in
surancc agent told me only day or two
ago." he continued, that tho majority
of dwelling house fires were caused by
defective fiues i'll the cellars where tho
heater iiuc enters tho chimney"
James G. Moore, prominent builder
erecting from 200 TO 500 dwellings a
year and Il member OF the Operative
Builders association, denounced in out
spoken terms thcprescnt system of build
ing without providing n means of escape
from the upper floors except by the
stairways. lie said: at is an outrage
on the community.
"As dwelling houses are built in these
days, Eot one in 200 on tho average is
provided with trapdoor or scuttle in
tho roof. have always favored this
manner Of building."- Philadelphia
Press.
NOncOmmittaI Praise