The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-15
MUST BE UP IN THIRTY DAYS.
CHIEF MAGUIRE GIVES NOTICE TO
ATTACH FIRE ESCAPES.

He Says Property Owners Who Fail
TO Comply VIII BE DOcketed In Po-
lice Court for Violating City Law
on the QuestiOn-There Might be
Loss of Life, lie Says, Were Fire to
Break Ont i'm Buildings Owned by
Those Notified by Him.
! Fire Chief Mcguire sent several notices
yesterday to property owners asking them
to attach suitable fire escapes TO their
buildings within thirty days. In case Of
failure. he gives notice that he will place
their names on the information docket
for violating city ordinance.
The chiefs authority for the notice Civ
en- is in the fourth section Of an ordinance
requiring owners of buildings to observe
certain precautions against fire. 1t SAYS
that the owners of buildings who fail to
comply with the requirements of this ord
nance, within the time designated, or
after having received written notice as
herein provided, shall refuse or neglect to
make the alterations specified in said
written notice. shall, upon conviction be-
fore the Police Court of Savannah, in the
hrst case, be liable to a fine of not less
than $25 nor more than $780, but in the
second case, after having received written
notice, shall be liable to fine of not less
than S25, nor more than $1O0 for each and
every month that said refusal or neglect
continues, commencing thirty days from
the date when said written notice has
been received by said owner"
The ordinance requires that owners of
iTp
three or more stories in hight, shall pro-
vide more than one way of egress from
each story of the building above the second
story by stairways on the inside or the
outside of the building. and such stairway
snail be as nearly as may be practicable
at opposite ends of each story, and 50
constructed that, in case of fire, the
ground can be reached from the third and
higher stories. Stairways on the outside
or such buildings shall have suitable rallied
landings al each story above the first and
snail connect with each of said stories by
doors or windows opening outwardly, and
such doors, windows and landings shall
be Kept at all time clear of Instructions
All the main doors of such buildings, both
inside and outside, shall open outwarlly
ana each story shall be amply supplied
with means for eXtnguishng fires"
In an interview in the Morning News
two weeks ago, Chief Mcguire outlined his
|
able fire IN certain buildings would carry
death in its path, and mentioned those
buildings. At that time he said the ordi-
nance which was passed Jan. 81, 1884, had
never been enforced, and that the repeated
efforts of himself and the fire commission
were of no avail in having the ordinance
complied with and buildings equipped with
safety appliances in this regard The
chief also said that i'm certain cases where
he regarded the danger as imminent, he
had gone through the stores and advised
young women The course to pursue in case
re-bound.
Speaking of the notices just issued. Chief
Mcguire said it was his duty and he pur-
posed pushing the matter with absolute
impartiality. A list of the notices sent are
in his office he said, and if the law is
rot complied with, or a Start made in thir-
ty days, those falling will certainly be
placed on the recorders docket for violat-
ing city ordinance. He said his duty
would then be complied with, and If Conn
Gil does not wish the law enforced, il was
his opinion the ordinance should be re-
pealed.
"In the event there should be wholesale
destruction of life by fire." continued
Chief Mcguire, 1.-THE entire of the blame
would fall on me, and there are people
who would say should have managed
differently and saved the lives. In the
Screven and Pulaski houses q quick fire
below would block the outlet and the hook
and ladder would have to be used with its
many accompanying dangers. Resort to
such measures hinders the department In
fighting fire, because all hands are first di-
rected to the saving of life In the case
of hotels, there should be adequate es-
capes on all sides for the reason that the
guests are most generally strangers and
not even familiar with the stairwavs
Throughout the country, the leading ho-
tells have placards jndexed This way to fire
escape in order that confusion NAV be
avoided
Chairman w. l.. Grayson of the fire
commission is of the same opinion as Chief
Mcguire in regard to enforcing the ordi-
nance. He thinks escapes are not only
useful in saving life, but in extinguishing
fires as well. Often the men can ascend
with the hose on fire escapes and get at
blaze more advantageously.
Chairman Grayson says there is no
doubt that the names of property owners
who fail TO comply with the ordinance will
be docketed in Police Court.
There seems to be no disposition by
Chief Mcguire to Inconvenience any one
but simply to execute his duty. 1t is pos
sible some understanding may be reached
between himself and those who have re-
ceived notice, which will obviate the ne
cessity of going into court. Should there
be no understanding, however about the
time of attaching the escape or otherwise.
the names will be docketed and the re-
corder may have to impose fines.
There is little probability of the repeal
of the ordinance to relieve property OWL
ers from complying with the precautions.